‘Baahubali’ put the Telugu Film Industry on the global film map. The sheer audacity and successful execution of the movie made everyone sit up and take notice.

Ideally, in such situations, the lead actor of the film is the one that gets the maximum mileage. But in the case of ‘Baahubali’, Prabhas is not the one who got the maximum mileage. That distinction goes to director S.S. Rajamouli and then Rana Daggubati. This is not to say that Prabhas did not get any benefit. He has become a household name in Tamil and Hindi markets, thanks to this film.

And S.S. Rajamouli deserves every bit of the praise and exposure that he is getting.

But you have to hand it to Rana for the way in which he has handled his post Bahubali brand image. Whether it is endorsements, or TV deals or career building, Rana has just outsmarted Prabhas when it comes to utilising brand Baahubali. The latest news that lends credibility to this hypothesis is Rana’s deal with Discovery Channel to present the ‘Real Heroes’ series. This is a high profile program that will give Rana good coverage in the national media.

Perhaps, Rana’s outspoken nature and aggressive media embrace is the reason for this. Prabhas on the other hand, is a shy guy who does not really go after publicity.

‘Baahubali – The Conclusion’ is currently in production and shooting is going on in Hyderabad. The movie is expected to hit the screens in 2017.