The Iconic Baahubali Twist Wasn’t Rajamouli’s Idea

Creating a strong cliffhanger is often the toughest part of building a successful film franchise. A decade ago, Baahubali: The Beginning set a benchmark with one of Indian cinema’s most memorable endings, Kattappa killing Baahubali.

The shocking climax left audiences stunned and eager for answers, paving the way for Baahubali: The Conclusion to become a nationwide phenomenon. The question “Why did Kattappa kill Baahubali?” soon turned into the viral hashtag #WKKB, driving enormous anticipation for the sequel. The mystery became a cultural talking point across all age groups, adding to the franchise’s massive appeal.

Now, with Baahubali: The Epic, a remastered and recut version that combines both parts into a single film, gearing up for release on October 31, the team revisited memories from the making of the film.

In a recent candid chat featuring SS Rajamouli, Prabhas, and Rana Daggubati, the trio discussed on how the iconic ending came to be. When Rana asked Rajamouli about the idea behind the twist, the director revealed that it wasn’t part of the original plan.

“The film was initially supposed to end with Baahubali being crowned king,” Rajamouli said. “There was even a scene between Kattappa and Kichcha Sudeep where Kattappa was to reveal that he killed Baahubali. But it was my brother and music director, MM Keeravani, who suggested we hold that revelation until the end.”

Rajamouli added that Keeravani’s suggestion changed the course of the film. The team instantly knew it would create a lasting impact. “It shocked everyone, but it worked. The moment became historic,” he said.

Though the ending initially received mixed reactions, it eventually became one of the most discussed and celebrated moments in Telugu cinema history. Directed by SS Rajamouli, Baahubali stars Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty, and Tamannaah. The film is produced by Shobu Yarlagadda and Prasad Devineni, with music by MM Keeravani.