In July 2015, a period action drama set in a mythical kingdom changed the landscape of Indian cinema forever. Baahubali: The Beginning, directed by S.S. Rajamouli, did more than just shatter box office records — it introduced the country to a leading man who could transcend regional boundaries and command a fan base across India’s diverse linguistic and cultural lines. That man was Prabhas.As Raja Saab, his latest entertainer, gears up for release in 2025 — a full decade after Baahubali made him a national phenomenon — it’s a fitting moment to reflect on Prabhas’s box office journey, his hits and misses, and the legacy he continues to build as India’s first pan-India star.The Phenomenon of BaahubaliBefore Baahubali, Prabhas was a popular figure in Telugu cinema with notable hits like Darling, Chatrapathi, and Mirchi. But it was Rajamouli’s magnum opus that catapulted him to superstardom. Released in 2015, Baahubali: The Beginning earned Rs 421 crore in India, a staggering figure for a regional film, especially at a time when the concept of a “pan-India” release was virtually non-existent.Two years later came Baahubali 2: The Conclusion — and Indian cinema was never the same again. The sequel grossed an unprecedented Rs 1030.42 crore in India alone, becoming the highest-grossing Indian film of all time domestically until then.
