HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRABHAS: Telugu heartthrob Prabhas skyrocketed to overnight stardom after the release of his epic Baahubali films. Directed by SS Rajamouli, Baahubali: The Beginning and Baahubali: The Conclusion not only gained him national recognition and fame but also catapulted him to become a well-known face among the Hindi-speaking audience.
The prominence came at a time when Prabhas hadn’t even featured in a Bollywood film except for a short cameo opposite Ajay Devgn in Prabhu Deva’s Action Jackson. The Baahubali franchise completely became a turning point in his career. Now, on the special occasion of his 44th birthday, here’s taking an inside glimpse of his journey before and after the release of Baahubali.
Before Baahubali
The Telugu superstar already had a 15-year-old successful career in the South fraternity, where he played soft romantic leads in schlocky action flicks with basic plotlines. However, even landing those roles was quite difficult for the actor. His father Uppalapati Raju often hit financial troubles and money was tight in his middle-class household. He commuted in buses and lived a humble lifestyle before telling his father he wanted to act at age 18.
His family, especially his father, didn’t see it coming owing to the actor’s “shy guy” personality. Fans know Prabhas still hates doing interviews and keeps his life as private as possible.
The Baahubali fame set a goal for himself and enrolled in a plethora of classes to learn how to act, dance, and fight. Eventually, it was his boy-next-door charm and humble stature that made viewers in the hearts of the audiences. It isn’t known if it was a conscious decision of Prabhas but he played characters that were solid, dutiful, and macho while also being mushy and romantic.
Through movies like Mr. Perfect, Rebel, and Darling, he established a niche for himself before taking up on the challenging protagonist of Baahubali. Notably, 7 of his 16 movies before Baahubali flopped at the box office.
Why Was Baahubali Prabhas’ Turning Point?
Notably, Baahubali wasn’t Prabhas and SS Rajamouli’s first collaboration. He was also seen as the main lead in the 2005 action film Chatrapati. But when SS Rajamouli narrated the dual role of his ambitious and magnum opus Baahubali franchise to Prabhas, he was quite wary of accepting the project.
And rightfully so. Not only was it going to take him on a completely contrasting path but it also demanded an exclusive five-year commitment. Not to forget the militant physical training he had to undergo. But all’s well that ends well. He eventually agreed and what followed suit was his dedicated efforts.
For five years straight he immersed himself learning horse riding, and sword fighting. It is reported that he’d train and work for about 4-6 hours every day and follow a strict diet regime to build up a chiselled physique. The outcome of it all was that he managed to convince audiences he could lift heavy rocks and wrestle bulls with bare hands within the movie with great ease
After Baahubali
Prabhas was taken aback by the stratospheric rise of his fame not only to national but even international audiences as well. Prabhas became the first South Indian star to have a wax replica in Madame Tussauds. Baahubali: The Beginning, which was made on a budget of Rs 191 crore, earned Rs 600 crore at the box office. Its sequel Baahubali: The Beginning, produced at a staggering budget of Rs 250 crore, amassed approximately Rs 854 crore.
Though he has starred in a few tanked movies including Saaho and Radhe Shyam after Baahubali, fans are eagerly waiting for Prabhas to redeem himself in his much-awaited projects Salaar and Kalki 2898 AD.
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