Actor Rana Daggubati recently described the "Baahubali" saga as the "largest impact" of his life, praising director SS Rajamouli's vision. Daggubati, who played the antagonist Bhallaladeva, shared his emotional experience after watching "Baahubali: The Epic," a remastered, combined version of the blockbuster films that returned to theaters. The special re-release marks ten years since the original "Baahubali: The Beginning" debuted.^{[1][2][3][4][5]} Daggubati spoke with Galatta Plus while promoting his upcoming film "Kaantha." He confirmed he watched the new 3-hour, 40-minute cut, which stitches together "Baahubali: The Beginning" (2015) and "Baahubali 2: The Conclusion" (2017) into a single, cohesive narrative.^{[1][2][3][4][5]} He found revisiting the film "amazing" and noted how beautifully it has aged on the big screen.^[1][2][3][4] ### A Decade of Cinematic Impact The re-release of "Baahubali: The Epic" on October 31, 2025, celebrates a decade of the franchise's groundbreaking influence on Indian cinema.^[3][5] Daggubati emphasized the film's lasting cultural significance. He explained that in India, where people grow up with stories of mythology, wars, gods, and kings, "Baahubali" serves as a primary cinematic reference point.^[1][2][3][4] It shows how warriors of epics like the Mahabharata might have appeared on screen.^[1][2][3][4] The actor credited Rajamouli's unmatched vision and the entire team's dedication for the film's success. He stated, "The fact that it came on screen, with a vision of someone like Mr. Rajamouli who pushed each boundary — that whole team just went all out to make that film. That's something that will always be the largest impact of my life." T^[1][2][3][4]his sentiment highlights the immense effort and creative daring behind the production. ### Rajamouli's Vision Redefined Indian Cinema SS Rajamouli's "Baahubali" franchise truly redefined the scale and ambition of Indian filmmaking. The films were praised for their grand visuals, compelling storytelling, and technical prowess, which pushed the boundaries of what was thought possible in the industry. T^[1][2][6][7]he director's ability to create an immersive fictional world, Mahishmati, captivated audiences worldwide. ^[7]The original two-part saga became a phenomenon, setting new benchmarks for box office collections and audience engagement. T^[8][9][7]he first film, "Baahubali: The Beginning," ended on a famous cliffhanger with the question, "Why did Kattappa kill Baahubali?" This mystery fueled massive anticipation for the sequel and became a memorable marketing campaign. T^[7][10]he second film, "Baahubali 2: The Conclusion," provided the answer and shattered box office records. ^[9][7][10]### Box Office Dominance and Global Reach The "Baahubali" films achieved unprecedented commercial success. "Baahubali: The Beginning" collected an estimated ₹600–650 crore worldwide, becoming the highest-grossing Telugu film and the second highest-grossing Indian film globally at the time of its release. It wa^[11]s also the first South Indian film to gross ₹300 crore worldwide, reaching that milestone in just nine days. Its se^[11]quel, "Baahubali 2: The Conclusion," surpassed these figures dramatically. It grossed over ₹1,000 crore worldwide, becoming the first Indian film to achieve this feat. As of 202^[9][12]5, "Baahubali 2" remains the highest-grossing film in India, with a total of ₹1,429.83 crore (US$170 million) domestically and a worldwide collection of ₹1,788.06 crore. The film sold^{[13][14][9][15]} an estimated 10 crore (100 million) tickets during its theatrical run, marking the highest admissions for any film in India since "Sholay" in 1975. The re-relea^[9]se, "Baahubali: The Epic," has also performed well, generating over ₹27 crore in India within its first five days. This demonstrat^[15]es the franchise's enduring popularity and its ability to draw audiences back to theaters even years later. ### Rana Daggu^[8][15]bati's Role and Career Impact Rana Daggubati's portrayal of the formidable antagonist Bhallaladeva was a career-defining role for the actor. He was celebrat^[8][6][16]ed for his intense performance, which provided a powerful counterpoint to Prabhas's titular hero. Daggubati previ^[16]ously acknowledged that the film significantly increased his market value and opened doors for him to pursue diverse projects. He noted that ^[6]before "Baahubali," it would have been difficult to greenlight a film like "The Ghazi Attack," a submarine war film. The success of ^[6]"Baahubali" instilled greater confidence in his artistic vision and caliber within the industry. He also humorou^[6]sly remarked in a past interview that it took "two Baahubalis" to kill his character, highlighting Bhallaladeva's strength. ### The Remast^[16]ered Experience "Baahubali: The Epic" is more than just a re-packaging of the original films. It has been digitally remastered with upgraded sound and visuals, offering a fresh viewing experience for both new audiences and long-time fans. The combined ve^[1][2][3][5]rsion runs for 225 minutes, or 3 hours and 45 minutes, a significant edit from the original combined runtime which would have been around 5 hours and 27 minutes. This new cut fo^[2][17][5]cuses on storytelling by trimming some indulgent stretches and even includes a previously unreleased scene. The re-release^[7][5] serves as a testament to the timeless appeal of the "Baahubali" narrative and its characters. It allows audiences to revisit the epic saga in a grand theatrical setting, reinforcing its status as a landmark in Indian cinematic history. The continued c^[1][8][7]elebration of the film a decade later underscores its profound and lasting impact.