The Baahubali franchise may not be over yet as recent hints from Rana Daggubati, Prabhas and Anushka Shetty have kickstarted speculation about a possible Baahubali 3. In recent public appearances and subtle social media gestures the trio indicated that director S.S. Rajamouli might return to the epic saga that changed Indian cinema.
The buzz started after the stars posted cryptic posts and had interactions with the fans but with images of Rana Daggubati and Prabhas with Mahishmati in the background and some of the movie’s grandeur in the images (and that’s where the fans really got excited). Anushka Shetty has given the fans a buzz with fan art and comments on the franchise, and it has been widely shared. Although there has been no official statement from Rajamouli or the production team about it, these gestures indicate that we are getting closer to seeing an announcement.
Social media platforms are flooded with talk about ‘official confirmation’ of Baahubali 3. But industry experts warn that much talk comes from recent visuals and interactions and not a firm announcement. But the mere suggestion of other installments has sent fans into a frenzy, with hashtags such as #Baahubali3 and #MahishmatiReturns trending across platforms.
The original Baahubali films in 2015 and 2017 became global hits and box office stars and even for Indian cinema. Rajamouli’s tale was mythological in scale and visual effects were in high demand and Prabhas, Rana Daggubati and Anushka Shetty all became pan-Indian stars. The history of the franchise still inspires filmmakers and audiences and so the prospect of a third film is very interesting.
If Baahubali 3 does happen, fans are sure Rajamouli will continue to expand the universe with new characters and storylines and keep the epic scale and emotional depth of the earlier movies. Industry analysts say this could be when the audience is hungry for pan-Indian blockbusters and the box office is going to grow even more and that will be a huge deal.
Finally, Baahubali 3 is not official, however, the hints by Rana Daggubati, Prabhas and Anushka Shetty have revived the hopes of a new entry in the long-running franchise. Rumors or reality, the excitement is very much in line with the franchise and its place in cinema history.
