Before the Beginning was officially announced by Netflix in August 2018. Production began in September 2018 withDeva Katta andPraveen Sattaru as its directors.Mrunal Thakur was cast as Sivagami, who was later replaced byWamiqa Gabbi.Rahul Bose andAtul Kulkarni play pivotal roles. In March 2021, it is reported that Netflix has revamped the project with a new creative team, scrapping the previously shot version. The series was eventually shelved by Netflix in 2024.
The series follows Sivagami as she matures from a defiant and resentful girl into a wise queen, around the same time when the kingdom of Mahishmati rises from being a city-state to an influential empire.[5][6]
In March 2017, after the release ofThe Rise of Sivagami written byAnand Neelakantan,S. S. Rajamouli, the director of the two-partBaahubali films, confirmed that a television series will be made on the novel, comprising 13 episodes.[17] In November 2017,The Hans India reported thatDeva Katta would direct a web series based on the world of Mahishmati.[18] In July 2018, Katta confirmed that he will co-direct a three-seasonNetflix original series, tentatively titledShivagami.[19] The series, titledBaahubali: Before the Beginning, was announced in a public statement released by Netflix on 1 August 2018.[20] It was to be directed by Katta andPraveen Sattaru; Rajamouli will serve as a producer alongsidePrasad Devineni under theArka Media Works banner.[21] The announcement also revealed that the series was planned to have two seasons.[22]
Baahubali: Before the Beginning was the third Netflix original series announced from India after the crime thrillerSacred Games and horror miniseriesGhoul.[21] Erik Barmack, Vice-President of Netflix International Originals, felt that the theme ofBaahubali "resonates globally", one of the reasons for considering the series.[23] On 2 August 2018, a teaser announcing the series was released online by Netflix both on their website and other social media platforms, includingYouTube.[24] Rajamouli expressed his enthusiasm for the series, saying, "With Netflix as our partner, we have the opportunity to create a rich and riveting series and take this quintessential Indian epic to the world, which is very gratifying to me as a story-teller".[25] Neelakantan serves as the series' screenwriter.[26] According to the author, it is "the biggest thing Netflix has done in India so far", and is made along the likes ofGame of Thrones.[26] He reasoned adapting the novel as a series, stating, "[G]iven the story's dark and violent tone, the current censorship rules won't allow for it to be made as a film".[26] Neelakantan said that part of the series is shot inKerala and would feature something akin to the now obsoleteMamankam festival.[26] Sattaru stated that unlike the twoBaahubali films, the series would not be limited to "a south or north... It's a pan-India series[...]".[27]
In September 2018, filming for the series began, with television actressMrunal Thakur was confirmed to play the role ofSivagami in the series, withRahul Bose andAtul Kulkarni in pivotal roles.[10] Three sets were erected at locations where the twoBaahubali films were filmed.[10] Principal photography was completed in February 2019.[28] In April 2021, Thakur walked out of the project due to scheduling conflicts and was replaced byWamiqa Gabbi.[7][8]
In March 2021,Bollywood Hungama reported that Netflix has scrapped the previously shot version after investing₹100 crore, and new version with a budget of₹200 crore is planned.[29]The Hans India stated that the revamped version would have a new director and production team.[30]Kunal Deshmukh was reportedly signed as a director but he later opted out.[31]
In January 2022,Variety reported that Netflix was reevaluating the series, and has been "struggling with the project for some time now."[32]
In 2024, the series was permanently shelved by Netflix. While no official reasons have been disclosed for abandoning the series, the makers are reportedly dissatisfied with the visual quality.[33][34]
