Filmmaker S. S. Rajamouli’s latest magnum opus Baahubali: The Epic, starring Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty, and Tamannaah Bhatia, opened to strong numbers over its first weekend but witnessed a sharp decline on its first Monday. According to estimates from trade portal Sacnilk, the film earned ₹1.65 crore net on Monday, taking its total domestic collection to ₹26 crore after four days of release.
The film, which hit theatres on October 31, was among the most anticipated releases of the year, marking Rajamouli’s return to the Baahubali universe after eight years. Despite the initial buzz, the film now faces the challenge of maintaining momentum through the week amid mixed audience reception and stiff competition.
Strong weekend opening across regions
Baahubali: The Epic began its box office journey with ₹1.15 crore from Thursday premieres, followed by a stellar ₹9.65 crore on Friday, driven primarily by collections in Telugu-speaking regions. The momentum continued over the weekend with ₹7.25 crore on Saturday and ₹6.3 crore on Sunday.
However, the weekday drop to ₹1.65 crore on Monday has raised concerns about the film’s long-term sustainability at the box office. Industry experts note that while weekday dips are common, the sharper-than-expected fall indicates limited word-of-mouth appeal beyond Rajamouli’s loyal fan base.
Day-wise India box office collection:
- Day 0 (Thursday): ₹1.15 crore
- Day 1 (Friday): ₹9.65 crore
- Day 2 (Saturday): ₹7.25 crore
- Day 3 (Sunday): ₹6.3 crore
- Day 4 (Monday): ₹1.65 crore
Total: ₹26 crore (approx.)
Performance better in southern markets
The film’s performance has been strongest in the South, particularly in Telugu states, where Rajamouli and Prabhas enjoy a massive fan following. The Telugu version contributed the majority of the weekend gross, while the Hindi version saw a moderate opening amid heavy competition from titles like Thamma, Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat, and The Taj Story.
According to regional breakdowns, the film collected:
- Telugu: ₹17.85 crore
- Hindi: ₹6.1 crore
- Tamil: ₹1.4 crore
- Malayalam: ₹0.7 crore
- Kannada: ₹0.08 crore
The worldwide total stood at approximately ₹39.75 crore over the first weekend, reflecting solid overseas performance, particularly in the US and UAE markets.
Tamannaah’s song removed amid fan debate
Director S. S. Rajamouli confirmed that the song “Pacha Bottesina”, picturised on Tamannaah Bhatia, was removed from the final theatrical cut to maintain narrative pace. The decision has drawn mixed reactions from fans, many of whom expressed disappointment on social media, calling the song an integral part of Baahubali’s musical identity.
Comparisons with earlier Baahubali films
The new film inevitably faces comparisons with its record-breaking predecessors — Baahubali: The Beginning (2015), which made ₹650 crore worldwide, and Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017), which amassed a historic ₹1,788.06 crore globally.
Trade analysts, however, caution against direct comparison, noting that Baahubali: The Epic is positioned as a reimagined extension rather than a direct sequel. The film also teases an upcoming animated spinoff titled Baahubali: The Eternal War, reportedly made on a ₹120 crore budget, aimed at expanding the cinematic universe through new storytelling formats.
Outlook for the coming week
While the film’s opening weekend performance remains encouraging, the weekday dip suggests that it will need strong hold and word-of-mouth to sustain through its second week. The Hindi belt remains the key area for potential growth, though the continued run of competing releases poses challenges.
With high expectations and a legacy franchise to live up to, Baahubali: The Epic now faces a crucial box office test in the coming days.