The world held its breath as Rana Daggubati stepped into the role of the iconic villain in the Baahubali films. As an actor, artistic prowess cannot always be expressed well in the character of the hero. One infamous line from The Dark Knight goes “You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain”. Daggubati has not just acted as a villain, he has lived in his garb, evil incarnate or not, he has provided flesh to the spirit, making Bhallaladeva, a character to remember.
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Fleshing out the antagonist: Rana Daggubati’s Calibre
The real villain always conceals his true weapon until the last minute. Similarly, the brilliance of Rana’s portrayal lies in the complexity of Bhallaladeva. He isn’t just your typical moustache-twirling villain; providing a performance layered with emotion, ambition, and a hint of madness, he is the incarnation of otherworldly dilemma. Its almost as if he did not just dive into the role—he created waves that resonated long after the final credits rolled. The world of Baahubali revolves around epic battles and profound choices, but it’s Bhallaladeva’s internal conflicts and nuances that truly pave the way for a gripping story.
A rigorous preparation process was also instrumental for the actor. In his interview with Mumbai Mirror, the actor delved into the specifics. “We started out working on the physicality of the character. A rigorous training and diet plan was chalked out for me and I’d spend hours in the gym every day to look the part. I also had to appear convincing in the fight sequences for which I needed basic weapon-training with knives and swords. I had special trainers guiding me through the process and we spent weeks perfecting that skill, with special emphasis on the mace (gada) which was my main weapon.”
An Actor’s sojourn
A specific portion from one of the actor’s interviews went viral for his witty response and ability to think on his feet. Daggubati was asked, “So you have given two blockbusters in your life, which are Baahubali and Baahubali 2. Right? But, you did not play Baahubali. You’re feeling bad about it?”. Not backing down, the actor responded, “No, but there were two Baahubalis that were needed to kill me. That’s how life is.”
Daggubati’s dedication to his craft and powerful performance brought the villain to life, leaving a lasting impression on audiences. We can confidently proclaim that it is his presence that brought the character of Bhallaladeva to life!
For more articles on killer characters, read here.
