Bollywood be warned—there’s a new kid on the block. Since its release in March, the South Indian historical thriller “RRR” has been breaking box-office records, grossing in excess of $140 million worldwide. It is currently streaming worldwide on Netflix. And now, a sequel is reportedly in the works.
“RRR” filmmaker S. S. Rajamouli has been telling reporters that his father, Vijayendra Prasad, is now working on a screenplay for a new chapter. During a recent screening in Chicago, Rajamouli said, “I would absolutely love to do that. I can’t reveal many details about it, but my father is the storywriter for all my films; we discussed a bit about it and he is working on the story.”
But an “RRR“ sequel will not be the next project for Rajamouli, who’s preparing to direct a new feature, as yet untitled, with Mahesh Babu in the leading role. Production on this one is set to begin in spring 2023. Rajamouli had earlier directed Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017) as a sequel to Baahubali: The Beginning (2015). That sequel was an uncontested success, having grossed more than $250 million worldwide.
“RRR,” a fictional narrative of Indian revolutionaries fighting British colonialists in the 1920s, was one of the most expensive films ever to come out of the subcontinent, with a budget of $72 million. It is noted for its sophisticated stunt work and special effects, such as a scene in which a herd of wild animals is released to attack the occupying British forces.
The Telugu-language movie features a star-studded cast that includes Jr NTR, Ram Charan, Ajay Devgn, and Alia Bhatt. Describing NTR and Charan to a reporter from Deadline, Rajamonuli recently declared, “They are like my younger brothers, they are my family friends. Of course I would love to work with them again, and I can say from their side they would like to work with me again.”
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Speaking of the possibility of a sequel, NTR Jr. was quoted as saying: “I’ve used the word ‘franchise’ thinking, hoping that there would be another world of “RRR” again. Sometimes [if] you just hope and you say a few words hoping it would happen, it will happen. It’s just a way of positive thinking, wanting for more.”
