Rajamouli Reveals Bali Inspiration Behind Baahubali Battle Film Roars Again At Box Office

When S.S. Rajamouli says inspiration can strike anywhere, he means it literally. In a recent X post going viral among film buffs, the master storyteller revealed that the Karna and Ghatotkacha fight sequence in Baahubali was inspired by a grand sculpture he saw in Bali. The larger-than-life depiction of the mythological clash sparked a creative spark — one that eventually shaped one of Indian cinema’s most iconic war moments.And now, with Baahubali: The Epic back in cinemas in its remastered, single-cut format, audiences are once again witnessing how that vision translated into cinematic history.

#SSRajamouli Said I Saw - KARNA AND GHATOTKACHA FIGHT - Statue in Bali then I decided its need be in My #BaahubaliTheEpic Film. pic.twitter.com/CVdgie778A

— GetsCinema (@GetsCinema) November 4, 2025

This new edition condenses the two-part saga into one sweeping narrative while upgrading visuals and sound for today’s big-screen standards. With enhanced clarity, deeper sound design and a tighter storytelling rhythm, the film feels less like a re-release and more like a celebration of the world Rajamouli built.From Mahishmati’s soaring architecture to the raw emotional arc of Amarendra and Mahendra Baahubali, the film still carries the same thunder — only sleeker, sharper and grander.

Even as a re-release, Baahubali: The Epic has surged back into theatres with remarkable force. The film has already garnered ₹26 crore net in India in its first four days, with a global weekend haul of ₹39.75 crore, proving the franchise still commands massive pull. The re-release has drawn strong turnout across metros, fuelled by loyal fans returning for the big-screen experience, families rediscovering the epic, and a fresh wave of younger audiences seeing Baahubali in theatres for the very first time. This perfect mix of nostalgia and new curiosity has given the film an impressive second life at the box office.

Whether you’re revisiting Mahishmati or experiencing it for the first time, Baahubali: The Epic proves once again that true cinematic universes don’t age — they evolve.And as Rajamouli’s Bali anecdote reminds us — epic stories come from observing epic stories carved by cultures long before us. The only difference? He turned inspiration into a phenomenon.