Baahubali: The Epic Recut SMASHES box office records with a massive double-digit opening

It has been ten years since Baahubali: The Beginning first redefined Indian cinema, but the fascination clearly hasn’t faded. You can read our review here. Baahubali: The Epic, an extended re-edited version combining both original films, has reignited that storm at the box office. Director S.S. Rajamouli, whose storytelling brilliance already found global fame with the Baahubali films and RRR, has reminded audiences once again why his films feel like events rather than mere releases.

The film’s arrival was met with enthusiastic turnout across multiple languages. Early estimates from industry tracker Sacnilk pegged the total worldwide day-one collection at Rs 9.25 crore across Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada versions. Add to that Rs 1.15 crore from a special Thursday preview for Telugu audiences, and the total climbs to an impressive Rs 10.4 crore, including overseas screenings in the U.S. and North America.

Baahubali The Epic Creates a New Benchmark for Re-Releases

This re-edited cut has achieved what few re-releases even attempt. With a net total of Rs 10.4 crore on opening day, Baahubali: The Epic has claimed the biggest day-one haul ever for a re-release in India. It has gone well past the earlier benchmark set by Gabbar Singh’s re-release, which opened to Rs 5.08 crore.

The Telugu market led the charge, contributing the lion’s share of collections, with occupancy levels hovering around 63.63 percent through the day. Morning shows recorded 53 percent seats filled, afternoon climbed to 59 percent, evening hit 65 percent, and night shows peaked at nearly 77 percent.

Industry insiders see this as a striking reminder of Rajamouli’s hold over the audience. Even after a decade, the Baahubali universe continues to command both emotional and commercial attention. The fact that this is not a new film, but a remastered version of two older ones, makes the response even more remarkable.

The Mahishmati Magic Still Works

At 225 minutes, Baahubali: The Epic is a full-scale revisit to the world of Mahishmati. The narrative flows seamlessly through both stories, giving fans a single grand arc that feels richer in context and continuity. The remaster sharpens the visual quality, and the transitions between the two films have been stitched with fresh rhythm, making the viewing experience feel fluid and freshly paced.

Performances from Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty, Tamannaah Bhatia, Ramya Krishnan, Nassar, and Sathyaraj carry the same gravitas that once drew audiences to theatres by the millions. The restoration work enhances not just the visuals but also the emotional charge behind key moments, particularly the ones that shaped the Baahubali legacy.

Numbers Speak Louder Than Nostalgia

Re-releases rarely open this strong, but Baahubali: The Epic has upended expectations. The Rs 10.4 crore figure isn’t just symbolic; it’s a market statement. It shows that the appetite for large-scale spectacle hasn’t faded, even in an age dominated by streaming and short-form viewing. The Hindi version alone added around Rs 1.25 to Rs 1.50 crore to the total, proving that the film’s pan-India appeal remains intact.

With no direct competition at the box office, trade analysts expect the film to continue its upward trajectory through the weekend. The buzz indicates that Saturday and Sunday could both bring in double-digit figures, estimated between Rs 11 crore and Rs 12 crore each. If those numbers hold, the film could quickly become the highest-grossing re-release in Indian cinema history.

Baahubali’s 2015 arrival changed Indian cinema’s scale, and its re-edited return is doing it again. Theatres across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and North India are seeing strong walk-ins fueled by nostalgia. Rajamouli’s mix of grandeur and emotion keeps audiences hooked through its epic runtime. For new viewers, it’s a big-screen introduction; for fans, a nostalgic revival.

With collections soaring, Baahubali: The Epic is set to outpace past re-releases. More than a comeback, it proves Rajamouli’s Mahishmati remains timeless and continues to dominate box office trends today.