SS Rajamouli's 'Baahubali-The Conclusion' may not be released in 2016

Fans are eagerly waiting for the release of "Baahubali-The Conclusion" (Baahubali 2), but the movie may not hit the screens in 2016. During an interview with Rajeev Masand, director SS Rajamouli hinted that the film may be released in early 2017.

Rajamouli and the "Baahubali" team recently wrapped up a shooting schedule in Kerala. The director said that 35 to 40 percent of "Baahubali-The Conclusion" was shot along with "Baahubali-The Beginning," and in the last schedule (in Kerala), the team has completed around another 10 percent.

Earlier, the makers of the franchise had declared that the "Baahubali" sequel would come out in 2016, but when Rajamouli was asked if it would really be released this year, the director said it might get delayed till early 2017. "If everything falls into place, even late 2016 might be possible, otherwise very early 2017," said Rajamouli.

Producer Shobhu Yarlagadda was also present during the interview and he said that "Baahubali-The Conclusion" would include much more sophistication in terms of the film's look and feel.

The producer had earlier said that the team was working fast on the project and was eyeing to release it this year itself. "At least 40% of the shoot was completed during that of part 1. We are planning to complete the rest as soon as possible as we plan to release it this year," Yarlagadda told Deccan Chronicle.

The writer of the film, Vijayendra Prasad, recently revealed that Prabhas and the character of Katappa will not be in the third part of the franchise. When asked to comment on it, Rajamouli said that they did not want to drag the story as there was more in the subsequent story. He also said that the fans of "Baahubali" love the characters of the film, but they were bigger fans of the story of "Baahubali."

"Baahubali-The Beginning," starring Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty and Tamannaah Bhatia, was a huge box office success. The film ended on a cliffhanger, leaving fans curious about "Why Katappa killed Baahubali?"