“It Was Never Hrithik…” Baahubali Myth Bursters Ft. Shobu Yarlagadda

Over the years, many big films have faced rumours and false stories about their making, casting, and behind-the-scenes decisions. Without official confirmation, these stories often continue for years as if they were facts. Baahubali, being one of the most ambitious films in Indian cinema, was no exception. It sparked hundreds of such discussions and theories among fans and media alike.

Now, ahead of Baahubali: The Epic, a recut and reimagined version of the film set to release in theatres on October 31, Gulte.com had an exclusive conversation with producer Shobu Yarlagadda. In this detailed discussion, Shobu addressed some of the most talked-about rumours surrounding the Baahubali films.

One of the most circulated claims was that director S.S. Rajamouli initially considered the late actor Srihari for the role of Kattappa. Shobu clarified this, saying, “I don’t think so. There might have been a passing discussion, but Sathyaraj was the first and only choice we made a serious effort to cast. We never approached Srihari for the role.”

He also spoke about the widely discussed rumour that the team wanted Hollywood actor Jason Momoa for the role of Bhallaladeva before casting Rana Daggubati. “Yes, we thought about it briefly and even tried reaching out through his agency, but we soon finalized Rana Daggubati for the part,” Shobu revealed.

On another long-standing theory about Kiccha Sudeep’s cameo as Aslam Khan, which was believed to lead to an extended role in Baahubali 2, Shobu said, “That was never the plan.”

Finally, addressing the speculation that Hrithik Roshan was first approached for the lead role, Shobu cleared the air, saying, “Baahubali was written for Prabhas. He came on board first, and the story followed from there.”

With these clarifications, Shobu Yarlagadda has put several long-standing myths about Baahubali to rest. The full interaction is available now on Gulte Pro’s YouTube channel.