The Baahubali franchise stands as one of the biggest milestones in Indian cinema, forever changing its trajectory and paving the way for Indian films on the global stage. Both parts achieved record-breaking box-office success and remain iconic to this day. Now, to celebrate this legacy, the makers are uniting both chapters as Baahubali: The Epic, a re-edited and remastered version of the timeless saga, releasing in cinemas this month. Interestingly, the Hindi audience too embraced the epic, with Karan Johar presenting the films in Hindi. In a recent conversation with Komal Nahta on his podcast Game Changers: The Producer Series, Karan revealed how his deep admiration for S.S. Rajamouli led to their collaboration, sharing that he personally approached the filmmaker, with Rana Daggubati helping bring them together.
When it comes to Baahubali, few know that the partnership between S.S. Rajamouli and Karan Johar wasn’t initiated by the director but by Karan himself. Speaking about how this legendary collaboration began, Karan, in conversation with Komal Nahta on his podcast Game Changers: The Producer Series, shared how deeply he had admired Rajamouli’s craft long before their association. “I approached him. I was obsessed with Rajamouli from even before,” Karan revealed, admitting that his fascination with the filmmaker’s vision drove him to seek out the partnership that would later change Indian cinema forever.
Recounting how the monumental Baahubali collaboration came to life, Karan shared that actor Rana Daggubati played a crucial role in making it happen. “Until that time, people from our cinema weren’t even aware of the genius of Rajamouli, I knew. I kept asking Rana about Baahubali. Then, he arranged a meeting with Rajamouli sir,” recalled Karan. That meeting marked the beginning of one of the most iconic partnerships in modern Indian cinema, one that bridged industries and audiences across the nation.
Karan further expressed his admiration for Rajamouli’s earlier works, particularly highlighting Makkhi as a masterpiece that went underappreciated. “A film that didn’t work for Rajamouli sir in Hindi was Makkhi. According to me, it is one of the best films ever made. Makkhi wasn’t marketed properly. That’s why I told him that I think what you’ve made is spectacular, it’s the biggest motion picture of India, and I would love to position it. I was always a big fan, and I was very excited about presenting Baahubali. That was in many ways a game changer,” Karan stated, underscoring how the film’s release became a defining moment for Indian cinema.
Baahubali: The Epic is described as a single-film version of the Baahubali story, combining footage from both films with new technical enhancements, restored or previously unseen scenes, and selective alterations. The excitement around the film is at its peak, as audiences prepare to witness the magic of two mega blockbusters in one. The film is scheduled for theatrical release on 31 October 2025 in multiple premium formats, including IMAX, 4DX, D-Box, Dolby Cinema, and EPIQ. It will be released in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, and Malayalam.
