Netflix shelves Rs 80 crore Baahubali prequel series twice over creative issues

Actor Bijay Anand, known for his performances in Pyaar Toh Hona Hi Tha and Shershaah, recently revealed his involvement in Netflix’s ambitious yet ill-fated Baahubali: Before the Beginning.

Despite an investment of Rs 80 crore and two years of production, the streaming giant scrapped the series not once, but twice, citing creative dissatisfaction.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Anand shared his disappointment over the project, which was originally announced in 2018 as a prequel to the blockbuster Baahubali films. The series was initially set to feature Mrunal Thakur but later saw Wamiqa Gabbi taking over the lead role. Anand described his part as a "main role" in the series and recounted how he initially turned down the offer, underestimating its scale.

“I thought it was just another Netflix show, but Karan Kundra convinced me to reconsider,” Anand said. He ended up dedicating two years to the project in Hyderabad, only to have Netflix ultimately decide against releasing it.

Anand revealed that during his commitment to the series, he had to forgo a significant opportunity to act alongside Prabhas in Saaho. “They wanted me for scenes in London, Turkey, and another location, but I couldn’t do it because my dates were blocked for Baahubali,” he said.

Anand attributed the cancellation to Netflix’s dissatisfaction with the final product. “The show didn’t match what Netflix had envisioned,” he explained. This aligns with a 2022 report from Variety, which indicated that the streamer had been “struggling” with the project for some time.

Although the prequel series was shelved, Netflix paid tribute to Baahubali director SS Rajamouli earlier this year through a documentary celebrating his illustrious career.