Nearly a decade after ‘Baahubali: The Beginning’ transformed Indian cinema into a global phenomenon, fresh speculation surrounding a third instalment has gripped fans. A brief moment in Netflix's documentary series ‘Baahubali: The Torchbearer’ has gone viral, with many believing Prabhas may have hinted that ‘Baahubali 3’ could eventually become a reality. 

Although there has been no official announcement from filmmaker SS Rajamouli or producer Shobu Yarlagadda, the clip has reignited excitement around the franchise, which remains one of the most successful in Indian film history.

A viral moment fuels fresh rumours

The speculation stems from the closing moments of ‘Baahubali: The Torchbearer’, a four-part documentary that revisits the making of the landmark films through behind-the-scenes footage and conversations with the cast and crew.

Seated together, Prabhas, Rana Daggubati and Anushka Shetty appear to reflect on the legacy of the franchise when Rana begins teasing what many viewers interpreted as a major reveal.

"I don't know if I should say this publicly, but since Rajamouli and Shobu garu aren't here, I'll just say what's on my mind. The world may not be ready yet, but there will be Baahubali..."

Before Rana completes his sentence, Prabhas smiles and raises three fingers towards the camera. The gesture sends Rana, Anushka and the rest of the group into laughter before the documentary fades out with the message: "And the legacy continues!"

The brief exchange has since spread widely across social media, prompting renewed discussion about whether a third film could be in development.

No official confirmation yet

Despite the online excitement, ‘Baahubali 3’ has not been formally announced.

Neither Rajamouli nor the producers have confirmed that a third live-action film is currently in production, and there is no announced script, production schedule or release timeline. The viral moment has therefore been viewed largely as a playful tease rather than confirmation of a new project.

However, the production team has acknowledged that expanding the franchise remains a possibility.

"It is a possibility in the future," the team said while presenting ‘Baahubali: The Eternal War – Part 1’ at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2026 in France.

The animated feature achieved a milestone for Indian cinema after being selected for Annecy's prestigious Work in Progress (WIP) section, often regarded as one of the world's most respected platforms for animation.

The legacy of the ‘Baahubali’ universe

Directed by SS Rajamouli, ‘Baahubali: The Beginning’ was released in 2015 and starred Prabhas in a dual role alongside Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty, Tamannaah Bhatia, Ramya Krishnan, Sathyaraj, Nassar, Subbaraju and Adivi Sesh.

Praised for its scale, visual effects and storytelling, the film became the highest-grossing Telugu film of its time and established a new benchmark for Indian cinema.

Its 2017 sequel, ‘Baahubali: The Conclusion’, surpassed every expectation, earning approximately Rs 1,788 crore worldwide and becoming one of the highest-grossing Indian films ever made.

Last year, both films returned to cinemas as a combined feature titled ‘Baahubali: The Epic’, released in Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam and Hindi.

The franchise continues to grow

The ‘Baahubali’ universe has expanded beyond the original films over the years. The animated series ‘Baahubali: The Lost Legends’ premiered in 2017, while the upcoming two-part CGI feature ‘Baahubali: The Eternal War’ is set to further explore the story of Amarendra Baahubali through a new fantasy adventure.

Meanwhile, ‘Baahubali: The Torchbearer’ offers audiences an inside look at the making of the franchise, documenting Rajamouli's creative vision as well as the extensive physical preparation undertaken by Prabhas and Rana Daggubati for their roles.

The documentary is currently streaming on Netflix in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam.

For now, ‘Baahubali 3’ remains the subject of speculation rather than an official announcement. But a single three-finger gesture from Prabhas has been enough to convince fans that the story of Mahishmati may not be over just yet.