By Manishaa R
Contrary to reports, Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions has bagged the Hindi rights of Baahubali 2 for Bombay and North India. There were reports in the recent past that the reckoned filmmaker was likely to opt out of the race for the rights of the second installment of the epic period film due to a financial crisis. The reckoned filmmaker had reportedly decided to lie low and not make any fresh investments after pulling out of his favourite project, Shuddhi and another super-hero film. However the producer of Baahubali, Shobu Yarlagadda recently confirmed that Karan Johar would be releasing the film in Hindi, “There are no two ways about it. We are very much partnering with Karan Johar and his partner Anil Thadani for the Hindi version of Baahubali-The Conclusion,” Yerlagadda revealed from Hyderabad, adding that Karan Johar had played a constructive role in the North India success of the first part, “We cannot deny that a major part of the success of the Hindi version of Baahubali had to do with its unique marketing strategy,” Yarlagadda added. Moreover according to him, the film will be released on an even bigger scale in Mumbai and North India this time, “The first part was released in India in more than 4500 screens in the domestic market but we are planning to go for an increased number of screens this time especially in Tamil Nadu and North India. We are looking at a massive release for the Hindi and Tamil versions considering the huge following that the first instalment got in both the markets last year,” he revealed.
There were reports that the Tamil version of the film was recently acquired at a whopping price of Rs 52 crores to a leading distributor connected to a prominent political family in Tamil Nadu. However Yarlagadda revealed that the film was sold to a Rajarajan of K Productions-a new company in the distribution called K Productions Rajarajan, at a competitive price. On the other hand, there are reports that leading Tollywood distributor, Abhishek Pictures, who recently released Kabali, is in the race for the Telugu rights of the film. It may be recalled that Baahubali-The Beginning which was released on July 10 last year, reportedly grossed a business of Rs 586.45 crores at the world-wide box-office, becoming the third all-time highest grosser Indian film after PK and Bajrangi Bhaijaan.
Meanwhile the makers have rescheduled and locked the release date of Baahubali-The Conclusion on April 28, 14 days ahead of its earlier release date on April 14. “We are currently shooting the climax of the film for which we have created multiple sets in Hyderabad. We hope to wrap up the entire shooting by October or November. The second half will have the answers to all the questions that we raised in the first half including the most relevant one as to why Kattappa killed Baahubali,” says the producer with a smile.
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