It’s been a rough stretch for director Prasanth Varma. Just when the Prasanth Varma Cinematic Universe (PVCU) was building momentum post Hanu-Man’s 2024 success, a fresh blow has landed. Reports now suggest that Prabhas has walked out of Baka, the highly anticipated mythological action film in which he was set to portray the demon king Bakasur. And if you look at Prasanth Varma’s recent track record, this is unfortunately becoming a pattern.

Prasanth Varma’s Troubled Projects — A Quick Recap

Project	Star	Status	Reason
Hanu-Man	Teja Sajja	Released (2024) ✅	Budget disputes with producer Niranjan Reddy (projected ₹20 Cr, actual costs far higher)
Rakshas (Brahma Rakshasa)	Ranveer Singh	Shelved ❌	Creative differences + scheduling conflicts
Nandamuri Mokshagna debut	Mokshagna	Cancelled ❌	Dropped on the day of launch, postponed indefinitely
Baka	Prabhas	Reportedly Shelved ❌	Prabhas uncomfortable after test shoot; walked out

What Happened With Baka?

According to a report by Gulte (February 19, 2026), Prabhas underwent a test shoot for Baka a few months ago, backed by the prominent production house Mythri Movie Makers. The results, however, weren’t what anyone hoped for. Reports indicate that Prabhas felt uncomfortable after reviewing the test footage and subsequently decided to step away from the project entirely.

Neither the director, the production house, nor Prabhas himself has made any official statement confirming or denying the reports. But the silence is speaking volumes — and the buzz across the industry is unmistakably negative.

What makes this sting more is context: Baka was supposed to be a landmark collaboration. Prabhas — one of Telugu cinema’s biggest global stars — pairing with Prasanth Varma, the visionary behind Hanu-Man, felt like a match made in cinematic heaven. Now, fans are left wondering what went wrong so early.

Is the PVCU Struggling to Scale Up?

Hanu-Man was a genuine crowd-pleaser and proved that Prasanth Varma had the vision to build a Telugu superhero universe. But building a cinematic universe requires sustained execution — and the director’s recent run of shelved projects raises real questions about whether the PVCU can survive without its anchor collaborations.

Rakshas with Ranveer Singh collapsed over creative differences. A debut project was cancelled on launch day itself. And now, a Prabhas-led blockbuster has seemingly evaporated before it even began. That’s a lot of momentum lost in a very short time.

Prabhas, meanwhile, has a packed schedule ahead — most notably Kalki 2898 AD Part 2, which remains one of the most anticipated Indian sequels of the coming years. You can read more about his filmography and rise to pan-India stardom on the Prabhas Wikipedia page.

For the latest South Indian cinema updates, including all things PVCU, Prabhas, and beyond, head to TechnoSports and explore their dedicated entertainment coverage.

FAQs

Q: Why was Prabhas’s film Baka with Prasanth Varma shelved?

According to reports, Prabhas felt uncomfortable after a test shoot conducted a few months ago and decided to exit the project — though neither Prabhas nor the makers have officially confirmed this.

Q: What other films has Prasanth Varma had trouble with besides Baka?

Prasanth Varma has faced setbacks on Rakshas (with Ranveer Singh, shelved over creative differences), the Nandamuri Mokshagna debut (cancelled on launch day), and budget disputes during Hanu-Man’s production.