‘Aged Beautifully’: Rana Daggubati On Baahubali The Epic Re-Release, Hails Rajamouli’s Vision

Rana Daggubati is taking a walk down memory lane! As Baahubali: The Epic returns to theatres, the actor got a little nostalgic about the magnum opus that changed the face of Indian cinema. While promoting his upcoming film Kaantha, Rana opened up about watching the re-release and how it still feels just as grand and powerful a decade later. Recalling the experience of watching the extended 3-hour 40-minute version, Rana said it felt both nostalgic and awe-inspiring. “It is fun because that was the first story that was told to us. It was supposed to be one film at some point. It was just a long one film… it was just so amazing to revisit that and that we got to see it a decade later and still has aged beautifully, on the big screen,” he shared. Reflecting on the film’s cultural legacy, the actor credited Rajamouli’s ambition and creativity for setting new standards in Indian cinema. “In India you grow up with stories of mythology, stories of wars and gods and kings, and the only reference you have as a feature film is Baahubali… that this is how the warriors of Mahabharat could have been. 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,” Rana said. Baahubali: The Epic is a re-release combining SS Rajamouli’s two monumental hits — Baahubali: The Beginning (2015) and Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017). The restored version features enhanced visuals and sound, offering audiences a renewed cinematic experience. The film stars Prabhas in dual roles, alongside Anushka Shetty, Ramya Krishnan, Sathyaraj, Rana Daggubati, and Nassar in pivotal performances.