October 25, 2024: The Baahubali franchise redefined the Indian film industry, introducing the concept of pan-India blockbusters and setting new box office benchmarks. At the center of this success was Prabhas, who became a national sensation. Since then, the actor has headlined five films, all of which managed to open at over ₹100 crore on their first day, underscoring his immense popularity.
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While not all of these films have been box office hits, Prabhas’ enduring appeal remains unmatched. His upcoming projects further cement his status as India’s most bankable star.
Prabhas’ Road to Redemption After the success of Baahubali, Prabhas followed up with Saaho in 2019. Despite a strong opening, the film struggled in the Telugu market, though it found success in Hindi-speaking regions. The pattern repeated with Radhe Shyam, which also had a massive opening but failed to sustain at the box office. The critical and commercial failure of Adipurush was seen as a major setback. However, Prabhas bounced back with two blockbusters: Salaar and Kalki 2898 AD. While Salaar earned over ₹600 crore, Kalki solidified his reputation as a pan-India star, grossing ₹1100 crore with support from Amitabh Bachchan and director Nag Ashwin.
These successes marked a significant turnaround for Prabhas, who was at risk of losing his box office clout. Today, he has five massive projects lined up, each an opportunity to expand his legacy. What’s remarkable is his willingness to experiment with different genres, showcasing the versatility of his stardom.
The Making of India’s Most Bankable Star Prabhas’ upcoming slate of films boasts a combined production budget of ₹1700 crore, a figure that no other Indian actor can currently match. While Shah Rukh Khan, Rajinikanth, and Salman Khan each have a single film in the pipeline, Prabhas has positioned himself as the busiest superstar. His closest competitor, Ranbir Kapoor, has Ramayana and Animal Park lined up, with Brahmastra 2 still in the planning stage. But with five major films on his schedule, Prabhas is set to dominate the box office over the next few years.
Upcoming Projects:
Kalki 2 – The sequel to Kalki 2898 AD, with a reported budget of ₹500 crore, aims to surpass the success of the original.
The Raja Saab – Prabhas’ first venture into horror comedy, scheduled for an April 2025 release, has a production budget of ₹200 crore. The poster, released on his birthday, showed the actor in a completely new avatar.
Fauji – His first collaboration with Hanu Raghavpudi, this action drama is budgeted at over ₹300 crore.
Spirit – Although not officially signed due to scheduling issues, Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit is rumored to be his most ambitious project yet, with a budget of ₹300 crore.
Salaar: Part 2 – Shouryanga Parvam – Directed by Prasanth Neel, the sequel to Salaar is expected to be even bigger than its predecessor, with a whopping ₹400 crore budget.
