Now Reading: Netflix shelved Baahubali prequel after Rs 97 crore spend
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Netflix shelved Baahubali prequel after Rs 97 crore spend
Netflix has shelved a Baahubali prequel series after spending nearly Rs 97 crore on production, according to cinematographer Mukesh G. The series, which was meant to chronicle the rise of Sivagami, had…
Netflix has shelved a Baahubali prequel series after spending nearly Rs 97 crore on production, according to cinematographer Mukesh G. The series, which was meant to chronicle the rise of Sivagami, had completed two full seasons and shot portions of a third before being cancelled.
The project was originally envisioned as a three-season series with a reported budget of around Rs 270 crore. Mrunal Thakur was initially cast in the lead role but was later replaced by Wamiqa Gabbi. The team spent around 18 months shooting and needed only another 60-70 days to finish the entire series, Mukesh G said.
Netflix's official announcement had confirmed only a two-season series. The project went through major creative changes, including changes in the filmmaking team, before the streaming platform decided to shelve it.
Indian Opinion Analysis
This is not the first big-budget Indian web series to be abandoned mid-production. The scale of the Baahubali franchise, which grossed over Rs 1,800 crore worldwide across two films, made the prequel a high-stakes bet for Netflix. The reported spend of Rs 97 crore for an incomplete series is significant even by streaming standards, where shows are routinely cancelled after one season. The key difference here is that two full seasons were in the can, making the decision likely based on creative direction or strategic shifts at Netflix India rather than cost alone. The platform has been tightening its local content spend amid global subscriber growth slowdowns, and has cancelled several Indian originals in recent years. What remains unclear is whether the completed footage will ever be released or if the Rs 97 crore will be written off entirely.
Source: m9.news
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
