SS Rajamouli’s Baahubali: The Beginning and Baahubali: The Conclusion created an uproar in the Indian film industry on their release. The films merged the gap between regional and Hindi cinema and still hold the record for being the highest grossing Hindi films, across languages. So much so was the impact and success of the series that there were several plans put in motion to take the Baahubali legacy forward. One of them was a prequel series planned by Rajamouli in collaboration with Netflix.
In March this year, reports came out that Rajamouli is planning the show all over again with double the budget and is scrapping the already shot and completed version. Actress Divinaa Thackur, who was a part of the prequel, when asked about the show’s progress, reveals, “I shot for it but I feel that show is jinxed. That show was shot, if I am not mistaken, twice. But SS Rajamouli sir scrapped it both the times. I don’t know what’s on with it now.”
Divinaa goes on to add that the last she heard, the whole process was happening again for the show from scratch. “The casting was on again, and the director has been changed as well. They have changed around five directors so far,” she shares, adding that she was eagerly waiting for the release of the show that they had shot. “I shot for the show and we were waiting for the release this year but that’s deleted now. They will be coming up with another director on board and a new script. I don’t think they’d be using what we shot. We had shot and completed our version one-and-a-half years ago. But I think Rajamouli sir didn’t like something in it and something didn’t work for him there. So, he changed it.”
Ask Divinaa if she is going to be a part of the revived version and she quickly responds, “I hope so.” She reveals that she is in talks with the makers. “I have again auditioned for it as the new director had asked for it. The team has approached me, so let’s see where and how it goes,” she shares.
As for her other projects, Divinaa has completed shooting for her first film as a leading lady, Atithi Bhooto Bhavah, a horror comedy opposite Pratik Gandhi. The film also features Jackie Shroff and Sharmin Segal. Ask Divinaa if the makers are thinking of an OTT release for the film and she denies it. “It’s going to be a theatrical release only. The team had thought, like all Indians, that Covid will be gone by 2021 and they will release it this year. But you never know, things might settle down and work out and theatres might reopen soon,” she concludes.
Image source: instagram/entertain.stuff,actorprabhas
Image source: instagram/entertain.stuff,actorprabhas