Prabhas is currently the undisputed number one pan-India hero, and has been for quite some time. His fame skyrocketed with Baahubali, and despite a few setbacks, his stardom and top position remain intact.
While his market in Telugu cinema is well-established, it's important to examine how Bollywood audiences perceive him and what they expect from him.
Looking at his track record, it seems Bollywood audiences favor Prabhas' films primarily when they are action-oriented, with high-octane choreography.
His film Saaho performed well in Bollywood, and Salaar was also successful. However, when he ventured into romance with Radhe Shyam, the film failed to collect more than Rs 15 crore during its full run.
On the other hand, Kalki 2898 AD, another action-oriented film, did remarkably well.
As for his upcoming projects, Raaja Saab, directed by Maruthi, is a horror-comedy. While horror comedies do have a strong market in Bollywood, as seen with Stree 2, it remains to be seen how audiences, who primarily expect intense action from Prabhas, will react to this film.
Next up is Hanu Raghavapudi's Fauji, a period love story. There’s no clear indication of how Bollywood will receive this softer love story, though it is likely to gain attention in Telugu cinema.
After these projects, Prabhas will collaborate with Sandeep Reddy Vanga, the director of Animal, a film that is sure to generate considerable buzz.
Following that, Kalki 2 is expected to release, but not for another three years. Delaying Salaar 2 at this stage might not be the best decision, but it seems to be the plan.
Considering that Kalki 2 may take three more years to materialize, Prabhas' age should be taken into account. He is already 44, and by the time Salaar 2 releases, he could be approaching 50.
However, his physical appearance may not be a significant concern, as AI and advanced graphical technology are increasingly overcoming such limitations.
It’s encouraging to see that Prabhas has so many projects lined up. Dominating Indian cinema and maintaining the top spot since 2015 is no small feat.
