Prabhas: The Rebel Star Of Box Office And Big Budgets (image-X/PrabhasRaju)
Since the success of one of the biggest cultural phenomena in India, the Baahubali series, Prabhas has established himself as the pan-Indian star with big budget films and bigger box office collections. Even though the actor has had big budget films such as Saaho (2019), Radhe Shyam (2022), and Adipurush (2023), which failed miserably at the box office, Prabhas continues to lure huge audiences and deliver grand releases while setting and breaking records.
Tracing his journey all the way back to the film that brought the pan-India phenomenon to India and set trends, Baahubali 1: The Beginning (2015). Directed by SS Rajamouli, the film secured a worldwide collection of Rs 600 crores, becoming the highest-grossing Telugu film and the second-highest grossing Indian film across the world. Along with its commercial success, the film also won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu and the National Award for Best Special Effects.
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But another big highlight of the film was bringing Prabhas into the limelight for global audiences.
When the long-awaited sequel and final chapter, Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, was released in 2017, it shattered all records. The sequel went on to become the highest-grossing film in the country, with over Rs 1500 crore, surpassing Aamir Khan’s PK (2014), which collected Rs 792 crore worldwide. The film also won two National Awards for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment and Special Effects.
Prabhas now wielded a star power that very few did, with the ability to connect with audiences across the world.
The next big film marked the pan-Indian star’s Bollywood debut. Action-thriller Saaho (2019), alongside Shraddha Kapoor and others. The film made Rs 130 crore on its opening day worldwide, the second-highest ever for an Indian film (still lower than Baahubali 2’s Rs 212 crore record). Within ten days, the film has crossed the Rs 400 crore mark. The film was released in Hindi and Telugu. Although the film received mixed reviews and left many fans underwhelmed, it still became a box office hit, and Prabhas was praised for his performance.
The 2022 film Radhe Shyam, starring Pooja Hegde alongside Prabhas, did not receive unanimous praise from either fans or critics. The period romance film made a worldwide collection below Rs 150 crore, according to The Indian Express. Things were about to get worse.
Starring as Lord Ram in the mythological action film Adipurush (2023), based on the epic Ramayana, Prabhas and the entire film received negative reviews and criticism. Built on a budget of Rs 500 crore, reportedly, the film only made Rs 392 crore at the global box office.
Just when things felt dim, the ‘Rebel Star’ came back with Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire, starring Prithviraj Sukumaran, Shruti Haasan, and others in 2023. Made on a budget of Rs 270 crore, the film’s total box office collection worldwide crossed Rs 700 crore. With positive reviews, the film became the highest-grossing Telugu film that year, the third highest-grossing Telugu film of all time, the fourth highest-grossing Indian film of 2023, and the 11th highest-grossing Indian film of all time.
Now back with another big-budget film that is touted to be the most expensive Indian film with a production budget of Rs 600 crore, the sci-fi drama, Kalki 2898 AD, is set to hit theatres tomorrow. The dystopian fiction has already sold over 1.4 million tickets worth Rs 38 crore, as per industry tracker Sacnilk. As per projections, the film is already expected to hit a record-breaking opening at the box office, with Rs 200 crore in its kitty on its opening day.
Directed by Nag Ashwin, the film boasts an ensemble cast of Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Kamal Haasan, Amitabh Bachchan, and more.
