Baahubali 2: Rajamouli, Rana Daggubati unveil Bhallaladeva’s first look

The race has begun. The first look of Baahubali 2’s Bhallaladeva, played by Rana Daggubati, was shared by director SS Rajamouli on Wednesday.

The first look of Rana Daggubati from the epic drama Baahubali was unveiled on Wednesday. Playing King Bhallaladeva, Amarendra Baahubali’s bête noire, Rana looks menacing in the picture – those piercing eyes, bulging biceps and hard-as-stone torso are a throwback to his look in Baahubali 1.

Rana Daggubati plays Bhalaladeva, Amarendra Baahubali’s bete noir in Baahubali 2. (Twitter)

Sporting a heavy beard with a few grey strands, clothed in armour and with a mace as his weapon of choice, a dhoti-clad Rana channels the straight-from-Amar Chitra Katha look rather well. However, if you’ve seen Bhalaladeva in Baahubali 1, there’s little to differentiate.

SS Rajamouli’s ambitious film, part II of his Baahubali franchise, will release in April 2017 and will answer the one question that was left unanswered in the first part: “Why did Katappa kill Baahubali”. Starring Prabhas in the titular role, the film also stars alongwith Anushka Shetty and Tamannaah Bhatia.