Rajamouli Credits Suriya for Inspiring His Pan-India Vision

Acclaimed filmmaker SS Rajamouli, known for his blockbuster Baahubali series, acknowledged actor Suriya as the inspiration behind his efforts to expand Telugu cinema’s reach across India.

Speaking at the pre-release event for director Siva’s Kanguva in Hyderabad, Rajamouli reflected on how Suriya’s approach to film promotion motivated him. Ahead of his address, a video showcased Rajamouli’s role in popularizing the “pan-India” film concept. However, Rajamouli set the record straight, explaining that Suriya’s strategic film promotions played a key role in his own vision.

“They just showed an AV that I began the pan-India trend, but frankly, my inspiration to take Telugu cinema beyond Andhra Pradesh and Telangana is Suriya,” he said. Rajamouli elaborated that Suriya’s efforts to engage audiences across regions, particularly during the release of Ghajini, demonstrated the value of promoting films outside one’s native market.

“During Ghajini, Suriya would come here to promote his film. I used to tell producers and actors that his approach to building a connection with Telugu audiences was worth studying,” he said.

Rajamouli encouraged industry colleagues to seek similar success with audiences across languages and regions. The filmmaker revealed that a collaboration with Suriya was once on the cards, though it ultimately did not materialize.

“We were supposed to work on a film, but it didn’t work out. Suriya has said it was a missed opportunity for him, but I feel the loss was mine,” Rajamouli added, noting his admiration for Suriya’s dedication to story-driven projects. In response, Suriya humbly acknowledged Rajamouli’s influence.

“In a family, when an elder sibling does well, the rest of the family benefits. I missed the train, but I’m still hopeful to board it someday,” he said.

Rajamouli is set to direct an action-adventure film starring Mahesh Babu, though further details remain under wraps. Meanwhile, Kanguva, featuring Suriya, will release in theaters on November 14.

Suriya is also set to begin work on an upcoming project with director Karthik Subbaraj.