08 October,2016 05:00 PM IST | | Sonil Dedhia
Key actor Rana Daggubati on how the success of part one enabled them to up the ante for the blockbuster’s sequel
Rana Daggubati with his fitness trainer while prepping for the Baahubali sequel
SS Rajamouli's magnum opus Baahubali: The Beginning, which released last year, shattered all box office records. Naturally, there are great expectations from the sequel, Baahubali: The Conclusion. Rana Daggubati, who plays the antagonist in the film, says there isn't any such pressure on the cast and crew and the first instalment's success has, in fact, been a boon.
Says Rana, "Things that we were struggling with during the first film's making are being done effortlessly for the sequel. We have roped in Hollywood action choreographers, who have previously worked on films like X-Men. The visuals and CGI are far better. We are able to afford a lot of things, which, perhaps, wouldn't have been possible earlier. The kind of action we are planning to showcase is simply out of the world, something that cannot be explained. It's going to be a grand visual treat."
Baahubali 1 went on to make an estimated R600 crore at the box office worldwide. Asked if the team is aiming to create history with a four-digit figure at the BO, Rana says, "Box office numbers are discussed only in Bollywood. Down South, we never bother about it. We set out to make the biggest film that this country has ever seen. We achieved that with part one and are going to do it in a bigger way with Bahubali 2."
For the last five months, Rana has been working on his physique for his part in the sequel. Even in a leaner avatar, he looks no less menacing. "You have seen the older version of my character, Bhallala Deva. But for this one, I had to drop almost 20 kgs. I have been on a strict diet and haven't had a cheat meal even once all these days," he says.
