As Bollywood stumbles, SS Rajamouli bets on Baahubali nostalgia to revive theatres

Ace director SS Rajamouli will soon bring back his hit film, Baahubali on the big screens again. But this time, instead of a two part series, the film will be in one combined part, digitally remastered and incorporating footage not available in the original movie.

The newly released teaser has set social media abuzz, with many hailing it as the most visually spectacular rendition of Baahubali to date. Industry chatter hints at not just upgraded visual effects and sound design, but also the possibility of new scenes woven into the narrative—though the makers remain tight-lipped on that front.

In fact, speaking at the launch of the teaser, recently, Rajamouli said that the movie was originally conceived as being a single film. He was compelled to release it in two parts owing to the movie's massive runtime.

“Both Baahubali films were conceived to be one story, but it was too big to fit into one film. For the 10th anniversary, I didn’t want to give audiences what they had already seen. I wanted to create a new experience," he had said.

Baahubali is one among many Indian movies that will be re-released again. Another classic that will see the light of day is the Bollywood blockbuster, Sholay.

PVR, the multiplex chain, has already indicated that re-release of older films has become an important part of their business strategy, especially as Hindi cinema continues to struggle. In 2025 alone, much-anticipated movie from the stables of YRF Films, War 2, starring Hrithik Roshan, fell flat against high expectations.

Talking to Fortune India, Shilpi Jha, Dean, School of Media Studies and Humanities, Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies, opines that from the multiplex standpoint, re-release of older movies do not cost much for the company, but can give good returns.

"In the wake of big budget Bollywood movies faring very poorly on the box office in the recent years, screening of golden oldies have become a low-cost money making strategy for multiplexes where they can cash on the cult and massive fandom appeal of mega blockbuster movies. Since the re-releases do not cost much in terms of acquisition and marketing and have an emotional appeal and give them a leverage to cash on the nostalgia of the classics," says Jha.

Jha explains that even before Covid-19 multiplexes were mostly making money from overpriced beverages and snacks than from the ticket prices. In-theatre advertising was also a major source of revenue for them. While film industry in India recovered from the set back in 2023 with some multi 100 crore block-busters, 2024 was again a bad year for them when the revenues dipped due to lacklustre performances of big ticket films despite more movies being released on the silver screen.

"Bollywood needs a major introspection and shift in their approach. Audiences today are exposed to the world cinema and web series and cannot be fooled by repeated stale content. Lack of creativity coupled with exorbitant star salaries and unrealistic making and marketing budgets are making it difficult for them to stay afloat. For example, the latest Salman Khan releases, including Sikandar and Kisi ka Bhai Kisi ki Jaan succumbed at the box office despite his cult and huge fan following. Audiences have numerous choices when it comes to spending their time. Only compelling stories can bring them out of their homes to the big screens," Jha adds.

Data bears out what Jha is talking about. According to the FICCI-EY media and entertainment report 2024, Hindi cinema saw a 13% decline in collections last year. The report also pointed out that Bollywood’s reliance on dubbed films has increased manifold as box office collections from dubbed films shot up by 5 times.

"There is an air of caution all around among financers and producers. No one wants to get stuck with big monies unless there is a guaranteed return," says Jha.

In such a scenario, there is hope that movies like Baahubali, repackaged and re-offered to the audience, may find many takers. But, at the end of the day, it only lays bare the stark scenario wherein the issue persists from the supply side for multiplexes, compelling them to seek newer strategies to expand and diversify their offerings.