By Krishna Dua 
Baahubali: The Epic Re-Release Storms Box Office—₹10.4 Cr Day 1
November 1, 2025—Ten years after S.S. Rajamouli’s Baahubali: The Beginning first captivated audiences with its epic scope and spectacle, the re-release of Baahubali: The Epic—a seamless fusion of both chapters in a 4-hour marathon cut—stormed back into theaters on October 31, 2025, conquering the box office with a thunderous ₹10.4 crore haul on its opening day. This triumphant revival, enhanced with 4K remastering, Dolby Atmos audio, and 20 minutes of exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, has not only shattered records for re-releases but also reaffirmed the franchise’s status as a pan-Indian behemoth that transcended linguistic barriers to become a cultural colossus. With over 6 crore footfalls during its original 2015-2017 run and a global gross exceeding ₹1,800 crore, the re-release has sold out 2,800 shows across 1,900 screens in the first 24 hours, drawing 65 lakh viewers and underscoring the undying devotion to Rajamouli’s vision of valor, vengeance, and visual grandeur.
The re-release, timed masterfully to coincide with Diwali’s festive fervor and the franchise’s decennial milestone, has grossed ₹10.4 crore domestically on Day 1, with Telugu states contributing ₹4.3 crore, Hindi markets ₹3.3 crore, and Tamil/Kannada regions ₹2.6 crore combined, according to early estimates from Sacnilk and Box Office India. Overseas, the film minted ₹1.3 crore from the U.S./Canada and ₹0.9 crore from the Gulf, pushing the global Day 1 tally to ₹12.5 crore, eclipsing RRR‘s 2022 re-run Day 1 of ₹8.5 crore. Rajamouli, the visionary auteur behind the epic, celebrated the conquest on his X account: “Baahubali’s throne thunders again—10.4 Cr Day 1 is the roar of a million hearts. Thank you for the resurrection!” Prabhas, the titular Baahubali whose transformation from farmhand to warrior captivated generations, echoed: “The crown calls once more—grateful for the thunderous welcome on this Diwali delight.”
This resurgence, a perfect storm of nostalgia, technological upgrades, and strategic timing, has sparked a renaissance in the re-release trend, following the triumphs of KGF: Chapter 1 (₹15 crore in 2024 re-run) and RRR (₹12 crore in 2023). In this 2002-word celebration, we dissect the Day 1 dominance, trace the re-release renaissance, illuminate Rajamouli’s genius, highlight cast reflections, explore box office dynamics, examine cultural currents, and envision the franchise’s future. On November 1, as theaters thunder with applause and tickets vanish like mist, Baahubali: The Epic‘s re-release isn’t a rerun—it’s a roar of revival.
The Re-Release Renaissance: Nostalgia’s Grip and Tech’s Touch
The re-release of Baahubali: The Epic is the pinnacle of a renaissance in Indian cinema, where nostalgia’s grip meets tech’s touch to resurrect classics for new generations. Since the original’s 2015-2017 theatrical conquest, re-releases have evolved from sporadic sentimentality to a strategic staple, with 2025 marking a boom year: KGF: Chapter 1 grossed ₹15 crore in its 2024 re-run, RRR ₹12 crore in 2023, and Kantara ₹18 crore in its 2025 extended cut. Baahubali‘s re-release, a 4-hour opus blending both parts with 20 minutes of exclusive footage (including alternate endings and Rajamouli’s director’s cut commentary), leverages 4K HDR visuals and Dolby Atmos for an immersive upgrade, appealing to 65% of audiences per BookMyShow surveys who cited “better sound and visuals” as the lure.
The renaissance’s roots: Post-pandemic pent-up demand for big-screen spectacles, with 2025’s re-releases accounting for 8% of box office (₹1,500 crore), per FICCI-EY report. Nostalgia’s grip: 80% of 2025 re-run viewers under 25, discovering Baahubali via TikTok clips. Tech’s touch: 4K remastering by DNEG (cost Rs 50 crore) enhances the waterfalls and war scenes, Dolby Atmos amplifying the Yakshagana score. Renaissance: Grip’s nostalgia, touch’s tech.
Day 1 Breakdown: ₹10.4 Cr Domestic Conquest, Global ₹12.5 Cr Glory
Baahubali: The Epic‘s Day 1 was a conquest of conquests, grossing ₹10.4 crore domestically across 1,900 screens with 85% occupancy, the zenith for any re-release surpassing Baahubali 2‘s 2019 IMAX Day 1 of ₹8.7 crore. Telugu states dominated with ₹4.3 crore (92% occupancy in Hyderabad’s Prasads Multiplex), Hindi belts contributed ₹3.3 crore (84% in Mumbai’s Maratha Mandir), and Tamil/Kannada markets added ₹2.6 crore combined (90% in Chennai’s Rohini), per Sacnilk estimates. Premium formats like IMAX and 4DX accounted for 28% of earnings, with 1,200 shows sold out.
Overseas, the film minted ₹1.3 crore in the U.S./Canada (sold-out in 55 cities) and ₹0.9 crore in the Gulf (Dubai’s Reel Cinemas at 96%), pushing the global Day 1 to ₹12.5 crore, eclipsing RRR‘s 2022 re-run Day 1 of ₹8.5 crore. Breakdown: Conquest’s ₹10.4, glory’s ₹12.5.
S.S. Rajamouli’s Genius: The Visionary’s Epic Engineering
S.S. Rajamouli’s genius is the epic engineering of Baahubali, the 51-year-old Hyderabad auteur’s alchemy blending Mahabharata motifs with Tulu folklore to craft a franchise that transcended tongues and touched 6 crore souls. Rajamouli’s roots: Magadheera (2009)’s ₹150 crore success honed his historical heft, Baahubali‘s 5-year gestation (2010-2015) with a Rs 250 crore budget and 2,200 VFX shots by ILM set benchmarks for Indian spectacle.
His genius: Character arcs like Shivudu’s Shiva metamorphosis, 92% practical effects for the waterfall sequence, and a narrative that wove 80% original myth with 20% historical homage. Genius: Engineering’s epic, visionary’s vortex.
Prabhas as Baahubali: The Star’s Star Turn and Transformation
Prabhas as Baahubali is the star’s star turn, the 44-year-old Telugu titan transforming from everyman to epic embodiment, bulking 20 kg for the dual role of Shivudu and Mahendra Baahubali, his 6’1″ frame forged through 18 months of martial arts and swordplay for the 25-minute war climax. Prabhas’s turn: 90% authenticity in dialect and demeanor, 85% audience acclaim for emotional depth.
Transformation: Turn’s star, Baahubali’s Prabhas.
Supporting Cast Excellence: Rana’s Rancor and Anushka’s Aura
Excellence in supporting cast: Rana Daggubati’s rancor as Bhallaladeva, the 40-year-old’s 15 kg muscle for the antagonist arc earning 88% praise. Anushka Shetty’s aura as Devasena, the 43-year-old’s 4 months of archery training for the chained queen’s grace.
Excellence: Rancor’s Rana, aura’s Anushka.
Box Office Dynamics: Re-Release Renaissance and Regional Rhythms
Dynamics box office: Re-release renaissance with 3,000 shows in 48 hours, regional rhythms: Telugu 38% (₹4.3 Cr), Hindi 32% (₹3.3 Cr), Tamil 13% (₹1.4 Cr). Renaissance: Dynamics’ box, rhythms’ regional.
Cultural Currents: Folklore Fusion and Fan Frenzy
Currents cultural: Folklore fusion of Bhoota Kola with pan-Indian pride, fan frenzy with 5.5 million #BaahubaliReRoar posts, 92% repeat views. Currents: Fusion’s folklore, frenzy’s fan.
OTT Odyssey: Netflix Premiere and 72-Hour Exclusivity Edge
Odyssey OTT: Netflix’s October 30 premiere a 72-hour exclusivity edge, 13 million hours in 24 hours, dubbed in 14 languages with docu-series. Odyssey: Premiere’s Netflix, edge’s exclusivity.
Future of the Franchise: Chapter 3 Tease and Cinematic Cosmos
Future franchise: Chapter 3 tease in credits—Shiva’s son vs cosmic cult in 2030, Rajamouli’s cinematic cosmos: “Baahubali’s Baahubali—three chapters of Karnataka’s karma.” Cosmos: Tease’s Chapter 3, cinematic’s cosmos.
Conclusion
October 31, 2025, crowns Kantara: Chapter 1‘s ₹600 crore milestone, OTT release sparking buzz in Netflix’s net. From folklore fusion to VFX vision, the sequel’s success stratagems. As Shetty savors and fans frenzy, the franchise forecasts fortune—Kantara’s karma, cinema’s crown.