No idea why I wasn’t in Baahubali: The Conclusion, says Sudeep

Sudeep might have only played a cameo in S S Rajamouli’s Baahubali: The Beginning (2015), but it still managed to intrigue the audience. His character Aslam Khan was a weapons trader from Kabul, who tries selling a special sword to Kattappa (Sathyaraj). 

Kattappa politely refuses to buy the sword saying his own sword is better than it. This starts a test of sorts between the two where eventually Kattappa’s sword manages to rip apart Khan’s. Khan is so impressed with Kattappa’s valour and loyalty towards the kingdom of Mahishmati that he offers him huge sum and a better position in his camp. Kattappa refuses this too. The scene ends with Khan promising Kattappa to help him whenever the need arises. 

This, obviously, made the audience anticipate Sudeep’s arrival in the second film Baahubali: The Conclusion (2017). However, not only was his character nowhere to be seen, but there was also no mention of it. 

During the interviews for his upcoming film Dabangg 3, Sudeep was asked about this. He said, “I didn’t get a call. Now I have no idea why I am not there [in the second film]. I didn’t think much why I am not there. See, it’s basically Prabhas’ film. Even if I am there, it’s Prabhas’ film. Even if I am not there, it is still Prabhas’ film. Only Rajamouli can answer that question, because I never got a call.” 

When Sudeep was asked whether Rajamouli mentioned this to him before or after the movie released, he said, “Why should we sit around waiting for any information? They are the makers. They have their own reasons to cast me in the first part and not call me for the second part. There won’t be anything personal in that. Why should I ask? He is not answerable to me.” 

Sudeep's scene in Baahubali: The Beginning: