Filmmaker SS Rajamouli took a break from his ‘Varanasi’ shoot to come to Frace to interact with fans and share new details about ‘Baahubali. The Endless War Part 1’.The director, who won acclaim for his film ‘RRR’, attended a presentation at the 2026 Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France, and explained why the franchise made the leap to animation after two successful films – ‘Baahubali’ and ‘Baahubali. The Conclusion’.
SS Rajamouli speaks to fans at Annecy 2026
Speaking at the event, Rajamouli opened up about the ever-expanding ‘Baahubali’ universe and its deep connection with Indian mythology, he said at the event, “‘Baahubali’ is hugely inspired by Indian mythology, you all know. The stories of Indian mythology are humongous, vast and endless. stories, we were very limited by the constraints of filmmaking;
SS Rajamouli on the idea behind ‘Baahubali’. The Infinity War Part 1′
The director went on to share his ‘secret’ saying, “So, it’s impossible, what we chose to do is that the core character, the culture of the code, remains deeply rooted in India, but we chose a visual language, which is universal. Wherever the audience sees the film, they will connect with it immediately.”Reflecting on the success of the original Baahubali films, he explained that the creative team had expanded the franchise through comics and animated series, but felt that they had yet to achieve the impact of the live-action films. That changed when director Ishan Shukla came up with an idea that explored ‘What would happen if Amarendra Baahubali (after his death) went to the 14 kingdoms of Indian mythology?’
SS Rajamouli to make ‘Baahubali’. Eternal War Part 1′ is an animated film
Calling it “the exact kind of bump we needed to continue the Baahubali franchise in the way we originally intended,” Rajamouli added, “In India, unfortunately, animation is seen as childish [medium]not more than that. And we thought, like, how do we do this? Then the moment came. why are we only looking at India as a market? Let’s do it for the world stage. We will do it in the best possible way.“He added that the team has assembled some of the top creative talent and animation studios in the industry to realize Shukla’s vision. “Whatever good idea Ishan Shukla comes up with, we have to give it the best possible shape… and start making The Eternal War,” he said.
Japanese studio joins ‘The Eternal War Part 1’
According to Variety, acclaimed Japanese animation studio Studio Khara, best known for the Evangelion franchise, has joined the upcoming animated feature ‘Baahubali. Eternal War Part 1’ to produce a dedicated animated sequence for the film.The collaboration is facilitated by Japanese production company SlowCurve, which will handle production planning and coordination between the Japanese and international creative teams.
Prabhas is back as Baahubali
Returning to the world of Baahubali, Prabhas will reprise his role from the live-action films, lending his voice to Amarendra Baahubali. Ramya Krishnan also returns as the voice of Sivagami. Academy Award-winning composer MM Keeravani, who scored RRR and the original Baahubali films, composed the music for the animated feature.
‘Baahubali. Eternal War Part 1’ plot details
Set in the wake of the cliffhanger ending ‘Baahubali. The Beginning’, the film follows the betrayed and murdered prince Amarendra Baahubali into the afterlife, where he finds himself drawn into an ancient cosmic war between devas and asuras. Navigating the 14 realms of existence, he forms an unlikely alliance and fights to restore the balance of the cosmos.
SS Rajamouli meets fans
After the event, SS Rajamouli was spotted taking a break outside the event. There, he was seen taking time to greet his fans, sign autographs and even take selfies. In videos posted online, fans are seen walking towards the director and sharing their admiration for his work in films like ‘Baahubali’ and ‘RRR’.
