Baahubali Franchise Expands with Animated Epic War Film

In November 2025, the Baahubali franchise is set to expand with the release of its first animated film, Baahubali: The Epic War. The new project, directed by acclaimed animator Ishan Shukla, comes over a decade after the release of the original Baahubali: The Beginning.

Shukla's involvement in the Baahubali animated film was serendipitous. Producer Shobu Yarlagadda was impressed by Shukla's independent animation work, including his film Schirkoa and an episode of Star Wars: Visions. This led to an unexpected meeting, where Yarlagadda shared his plans to explore the Baahubali universe through animation.

Shukla, who grew up reading the beloved Amar Chitra Katha comics, found the perfect bridge between his childhood inspirations and the grand Baahubali saga. He proposed exploring the afterlife and cosmic dimensions of the Baahubali world, an idea that immediately excited Yarlagadda and director S.S. Rajamouli.

The writing process evolved collaboratively, with Shukla and co-writer Soumya Sharma crafting a story that was deemed too expansive for a single film. Rajamouli suggested dividing it into two parts, allowing the Baahubali: The Epic War animation to fully immerse audiences in the mystical realms beyond the physical world.