Baahubali: Before The Beginning, the prequel to the popular Baahubali franchise, has reportedly been shelved by streaming giant Netflix, reports Pinkvilla. Baahubali: Before The Beginning, which was to focus in Shivagami's rise to power, was approximately a Rs 150 crore project. A source close to the project told Pinkvilla, "The entire amount invested in Bahubali: Before The Beginning was put in the cans as the team decided to revamp the series with a new director. Kunal Deshmukh and Ribhu Dasgupta had replaced Deva Katta and the prep work also began in the month of July 2021."
The source also told Pinkvilla, "The work done on ground in terms of pre-production couldn't exactly be in sync with the vision that Netflix had for this period drama. After a series of discussions and contemplations, they decided to shelve the project at this point of time. Some extra money which was invested in the prep work too has been considered bad-debts for now. The approx. figure invested in Baahubali: Before The Beginning was Rs 150 crore."
In 2018, Netflix India announced the project with a video. The synopsis read: "From before Amarendra Baahubali's reign as king, comes a tale of power, politics and intrigue of Queen Sivagami's rise from a vengeful girl to a wise and unequalled queen. Witness the legacy of Mahishmati as it grows into a mighty empire no one dares to oppose."
The Baahubali series of films featured Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty, Tamannaah Bhatia, Ramya Krishnan, Sathyaraj, Nassar and Subbaraju in pivotal roles. The film not only won the hearts of Indian audiences, it was equally adept at performing well in the international arena and it premiered at international film fests like - the British Film Institute and the 39th Moscow International Film Festival.
The Baahubali series, originally made in Telugu, was distributed in Hindi by Karan Johar's Dharma Productions. The second installment of the film garnered three National Awards. It received National Film Awards for the Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, Best Special Effects and Best Stunt Choreographer.
Baahubali: The Conclusion was the second installment of the 2015 super hit Baahubali: The Beginning. It was the first Telugu film to get a worldwide release in Hindi. Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, which opened in 2017, became the biggest hit in the history of Indian cinema.