Ishan Shukla Takes Baahubali Beyond Death in Stunning Animated Epic; Baahubali The Eternal War

From Star Wars to Mahishmati: How an indie animator landed India’s biggest animated film

The Baahubali saga isn’t over—it’s just getting started. Ishan Shukla, the visionary director behind Star Wars: Visions’ acclaimed episode, is bringing Amarendra Baahubali back in The Eternal War, an animated spectacle that takes the fallen prince into cosmic realms. The first teaser has dropped, and fans can’t stop talking about it.

Project Overview at a Glance

Who Is Ishan Shukla?

Ishan Shukla rose to international prominence with his Star Wars: Visions Season 2 episode “The Bandits of Golak.” But his journey started far from the galaxy, far, far away.

Ishan Shukla began his career in Singapore as an advertising filmmaker, rooted in the world of graphic novels, anime, and anti-superhero literature. His indie feature Schirkoa: In Lies We Trust (2024) showcased his unique visual language, catching the attention of SS Rajamouli himself.

The Unlikely Pitch That Changed Everything

Producer Shobu Yarlagadda met the young animation director Ishan Shukla, who pitched an idea to extend the Baahubali story on a different tangent with the same characters. When Ishan Shukla brought the concept of expanding the Baahubali universe into a stylized animated epic to Rajamouli, it clicked instantly.

The trust from Rajamouli and Yarlagadda propelled Ishan Shukla forward, giving him complete creative freedom despite coming from an independent, low-budget background.

Death Is Just the Beginning

The story picks up after Kattappa’s heartbreaking betrayal, as Baahubali’s spirit rises to the heavens, where his destiny of war awaits. In the afterlife, Amarendra Baahubali navigates through 14 realms of existence, forging unlikely alliances and confronting divine forces beyond mortal comprehension.

The narrative focuses on an ancient war between Devas and Asuras, with Baahubali caught between cosmic forces while grappling with heartache for loved ones left behind.

A Visual Revolution in Indian Animation

Ishan Shukla draws deeply from Vedic cosmology, with each of the 14 Lokas representing different dimensions with unique physical properties. The film doesn’t mimic Pixar or traditional anime styles—it carves its own visual identity.

Multiple global studios collaborate on this project: Alcyde Studio handles visual development, storyboards, and 3D previsualization, while Aniventure and Zaratan deliver world-class production values.

What Makes Shukla’s Vision Special?

Ishan Shukla understands that Baahubali excels not just in action choreography and spectacle, but in getting the emotions right—making action feel personal when emotions hit. This emotional core, combined with his background in graphic novels and anime, creates a perfect match for expanding this universe.

The project has been in development for two and a half years, with a mythology consultant ensuring authenticity in depicting Baahubali’s journey through different realms and factions.

Why 2027 Matters

Ishan Shukla sees this as the perfect moment for Indian animation, with the landscape transformed over the past four to five years and recent box office successes proving audience appetite. The Eternal War isn’t just another animated film—it’s India’s most expensive animated production, matching the original Baahubali’s planning budget.

SS Rajamouli, the mastermind behind the franchise, remains confident in Ishan Shukla’s vision. With (The Grinch co-director) penning the script and Oscar-winner MM Keeravani composing the music, this project brings together global talent with deep Indian roots.

Ishan Shukla is proving that independent animators can helm blockbuster franchises—and redefine what Indian cinema looks like in the process.

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