Baahubali prequel had everything going for it. A massive franchise, the rise of Sivagami at its centre and Mrunal Thakur initially stepping into one of the most important characters in the Baahubali universe.
The Netflix series was originally envisioned on a huge scale, with reports at the time suggesting a three-season plan and a budget of around Rs 270 crore. Netflix’s official announcement later confirmed a two-season series.
But what happened behind the scenes makes the project’s fate even more frustrating.
According to cinematographer Mukesh G, the team spent around 18 months shooting, completed two full seasons and even shot portions of the third. Nearly Rs 97 crore had reportedly been spent, while the project allegedly needed only another 60–70 days of shooting to complete the entire series.
Yet, it never reached the audience.
Mrunal was eventually replaced by Wamiqa Gabbi, while the project went through major creative changes, including changes in the filmmaking team. After years of work, Netflix ultimately shelved the series.
Rs 97 crore. 18 months. Two seasons completed and none of it saw the light of day. For a franchise as globally recognised as Baahubali, this remains one of Indian OTT’s biggest missed opportunities.
