India's Most Expensive Web Series: Budget Rivals Movies Like Pathan and Animal!

In the ever-evolving landscape of entertainment, the passage of time ushers in a transformation that transcends the confines of traditional theater releases. Today's audience finds itself immersed in a vast array of content, easily accessible through Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms. Gone are the days of anticipation for cinematic debuts; instead, viewers revel in the weekly premieres of significant movies and series, contributing to substantial revenues within the industry. It is the allure of this lucrative potential that fuels substantial investments from producers into high-budget series, propelling the evolution of entertainment consumption patterns.

At the forefront of this transformation lies India, a burgeoning market teeming with creative potential and a burgeoning appetite for content consumption. Here, we delve into the realm of India's most extravagant series, which not only rivals but surpasses the budgets of blockbuster films like "Pathan" and "Animal."

Netflix’s big project Baahubali: Before the Beginning has now been SHELVED. The team has swiped out the 150 crore version after 6 months of shoot and post production, as they are not happy with the visuals and the end product. pic.twitter.com/kCzvZ2ARJZ

— LetsCinema (@letscinema) January 24, 2022

The title of India's most expensive series is claimed by none other than "Baahubali: Before the Beginning." The genesis of this monumental project traces back to 2018, amid Netflix's ambitious expansion endeavors in India. The streaming giant unveiled its grand vision: a spin-off or prequel to SS Rajamouli's monumental Baahubali film series, aptly titled "Baahubali: Before the Beginning." Rooted in the rich literary tapestry spun by Anand Neelakantan, this series draws inspiration from the enigmatic character of Shivagami, immortalized by the incomparable Ramya Krishnan in the films.

The investment in "Baahubali: Before the Beginning" was nothing short of staggering. Initially, the role of the youthful Shivagami was entrusted to the talented Mrunal Thakur. As filming commenced in 2018, luminaries such as Rahul Bose and Atul Kulkarni joined the ensemble, further escalating the production costs to a monumental 100 crore rupees. However, in a move indicative of Netflix's unwavering commitment to excellence, a decision was made in 2021 to embark on a fresh start, resulting in the replacement of Mrunal Thakur with the versatile Wamiqa Gabbi. Reports circulated, hinting at a staggering cost of 200 crore rupees for this reboot, consequently contributing to the overall series budget soaring to an unprecedented 300 crore rupees.

Netfilx re-evaluating Baahubali prequel series The much-anticipated two season #Netflix prequel to #Baahubali titled Baahubali : Before The Beginning is now being "reevaluated" by the streaming giant.#Prabhas #RanaDaggubati pic.twitter.com/r7Dnq8InXM

— SHIV DUTTA 🌠 (@imshiva17) January 28, 2022

"Bahubali: Before the Beginning" stands tall as the epitome of opulence in the realm of web series, commanding a budget that eclipses all others at a staggering 300 crore rupees. Trailing closely behind are contenders such as "Indian Police Force" and "Heeramandi," each boasting budgets of 200 crore rupees. Notably, these figures surpass the budgets allocated to numerous Indian blockbuster films, including "Animal" with 100 crore rupees, "Dunki" with 180 crore rupees, and even "Fighter" and "Pathan," with budgets reaching a modest 250 crore rupees.

- PTC PUNJABI