Hrithik Roshan: Was Hrithik Really the First Choice for Baahubali?

Was Hrithik Really the First Choice for Baahubali? News Update on SerialBoosters.com 

For years, an intriguing rumor has circulated in the Indian film industry: that Bollywood heartthrob Hrithik Roshan was the original choice for the epic role of Baahubali the character that would eventually immortalize actor Prabhas.

This speculation has fueled endless 'what-if' debates among fans, but the makers of the film have finally set the record straight.

The blockbuster phenomenon Baahubali, directed by S.S. Rajamouli, launched Prabhas to pan-India superstardom. However, reports have long suggested that before the crown of Mahishmati rested upon Prabhas’s head, it was first offered to Hrithik Roshan.

According to these popular rumors, the makers of the film approached the "Greek God" of Bollywood for the titular role. Hrithik Roshan is said to have declined the offer due to several reasons, most prominently his reluctance to commit to another lengthy historical-period drama right after starring in Ashutosh Gowariker's Jodhaa Akbar. 

The sheer time commitment—Baahubali famously took several years to film—and the desire to explore different genres were reportedly key factors in his decision to pass on the project.

When Hrithik Roshan allegedly denied the role, the filmmakers turned to Telugu cinema's own star, Prabhas, who was then a prominent actor in the South Indian film industry. Prabhas took a monumental risk, dedicating five years of his career exclusively to the two-part epic. This dedication, coupled with his physical transformation and performance, cemented his place as the definitive Baahubali.

However, in a recent revelation that puts the long-standing rumor to rest, the film's producer, Shobu Yarlagadda, clarified the casting story. Yarlagadda explicitly stated that the team never approached Hrithik Roshan for the role. He confirmed that the character of Baahubali was conceived and written specifically with Prabhas in mind right from Day 1, and no other actor was ever offered or considered for the lead.

 The script's writer, V. Vijayendra Prasad Rajamouli's father also corroborated that the story was developed after Rajamouli expressed his desire to make a period film with Prabhas.
In the end, while the legend of Hrithik Roshan rejecting the role persists in fan lore, the official word from the production house confirms that Baahubali was a character destined only for the Rebel Star, Prabhas. To know such latest updates, stay tuned to serialboosters.com Thank you!