Prabhas recalls most stressful phase after Baahubali: I couldn't sleep

In Baahubali: The Torchbearer, Prabhas said the film's success left him under intense pressure after release. He said that pressure shaped his choices and paved the way for Salaar and Kalki 2898 AD.

In Short

• Prabhas struggled to sleep for 2-3 years after Baahubali due to immense pressure
• Baahubali transformed Telugu cinema and boosted his career scale
• Saaho’s Rs 26 crore North India opening was surprising

Actor Prabhas has shared that the massive success of Baahubali came with immense pressure, admitting he struggled to sleep for two to three years after the film's release. Speaking in the behind-the-scenes documentary Baahubali: The Torchbearer, the actor reflected on the responsibility of choosing the right projects after the blockbuster and credited the film for making ambitious ventures like Salaar and Kalki 2898 AD possible.

Reflecting on the impact Baahubali had on his career, Prabhas said the film transformed the scale of Telugu cinema and changed the way his subsequent films were received.

Speaking about Saaho, he recalled that the film's opening-day numbers in North India came as a surprise.

“Saaho’s first day collections in the North were around Rs 26 crore,” he said, calling the figure “really shocking” at the time.

Prabhas credited Baahubali for that success.

“It happened only because of Baahubali. There’s nothing else to it. The opening day for any language was only because of Baahubali,” he said.

He added that the blockbuster's success also made it possible to mount bigger-budget productions, including Saaho, the ship sequence in Radhe Shyam, and every film he made afterward. Before Baahubali, he said, his films were typically made on budgets of Rs 20 crore to Rs 40 crore.

Despite the unprecedented success, Prabhas admitted that the period immediately after Baahubali was one of the most stressful phases of his career as he struggled to decide what kind of film should follow it.

“What’s next for me? A high-packed drama like Baahubali? Something more visual? But that was Rajamouli,” he said.

The actor shared that several ideas were discussed before the team settled on a direction. Prabhas said they initially considered making a screenplay-driven film before exploring the possibility of a love story. He also revealed that discussions were held with filmmakers Prashanth Neel and Nag Ashwin, both of whom would later direct him in Salaar and Kalki 2898 AD, respectively.

Prabhas also opened up about the personal toll the uncertainty took on him.

“I couldn’t sleep properly for two or three years after Baahubali. The level of responsibility in every department suddenly increased a thousandfold. Those were the most stressful years of my life after Baahubali,” he said.

Looking back, the actor said Baahubali laid the foundation for his later successes.

“We had the mother, the great Baahubali, which made it possible for us to go on and make Kalki and Salaar. It’s all because Baahubali happened first,” he said.

The discussions Prabhas referred to eventually led to Salaar, directed by Prashanth Neel, and Kalki 2898 AD, directed by Nag Ashwin. Both films emerged as major box office successes.

- Ends