Indian Movies Released In Two Parts: Baahubali, Ramayana And More

Written By: Entertainment Desk

Nov 07, 2026 15:10 IST ⓘ

Indian films that divided their stories across two installments.

Some film stories reach their interval long before they reach their ending. A kingdom still has to be reclaimed, a family feud has another generation to consume, or a hero’s carefully constructed identity is only beginning to unravel. Rather than squeeze everything into one sitting, filmmakers sometimes divide a sprawling narrative between two releases. For audiences, that means the pleasure – and occasional frustration – of leaving the theatre with unfinished business. The approach has accommodated historical novels, political biographies, gangster sagas and fantasies, with very different reasons behind each split.

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This week’s release of ‘Ramayana: Part One’ brings that storytelling choice back into focus. Nitesh Tiwari’s adaptation arrived in cinemas on November 5, 2026, beginning a journey scheduled to continue with Part Two during Diwali 2027. Before that second chapter arrives, there is plenty to revisit: Indian cinema has already turned the space between two films into a powerful source of anticipation.

1. Ramayana

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, ‘Ramayana: Part One’ features Ranbir Kapoor as Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Hanuman and Ravie Dubey as Lakshmana. The first installment released on November 5, 2026; Part Two is scheduled for Diwali 2027. Produced by Namit Malhotra, the project also brings together composers Hans Zimmer and A.R. Rahman.

The two-film structure was announced well before release. Nitesh Tiwari has explained that the story needed the space, and that the first film’s stopping point was chosen to leave viewers eager for the continuation. That creates an interesting challenge for a tale so widely known: the anticipation rests on how the filmmakers bring its next chapters to the screen.

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2. Baahubali

Few Indian films have made a pause between installments as memorable as S.S. Rajamouli’s ‘Baahubali: The Beginning’, released on July 10, 2015, and ‘Baahubali 2: The Conclusion’, which followed on April 28, 2017.

Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty, Tamannaah Bhatia, Ramya Krishnan and Sathyaraj anchor the two films. The first introduces Mahishmati’s struggle for power and leaves Kattappa’s actions hanging over the story. The second returns to Amarendra Baahubali’s past, explains the betrayal and brings his son Mahendra’s fight for justice to its culmination.

The division gives the family tragedy room to deepen. What initially appears to be a young man’s discovery of his royal inheritance becomes a story about the parents, loyalties and decisions that shaped his destiny.

3. Gangs Of Wasseypur

Before ‘Baahubali’, Anurag Kashyap had already demonstrated what happened when one film became too expansive for a conventional release. ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ screened at the 2012 Cannes Directors’ Fortnight as a five-hour-and-20-minute work, before reaching Indian theatres in two installments on June 22 and August 8, 2012.

Manoj Bajpayee’s Sardar Khan drives the first film, alongside Richa Chadha, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Piyush Mishra and Nawazuddin Siddiqui. The second shifts the centre of gravity to Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s Faizal Khan, with Huma Qureshi, Richa Chadha and the younger generation carrying the feud forward. Here, the split follows the passage of power within a family. One generation’s revenge becomes the next generation’s inheritance, making the two films feel like successive movements of the same bruising chronicle.

4. Ponniyin Selvan

Mani Ratnam’s adaptation of Kalki Krishnamurthy’s ‘Ponniyin Selvan’ divided its intricate Chola-era narrative between ‘Ponniyin Selvan: I’, released on September 30, 2022, and ‘Ponniyin Selvan: II’, released on April 28, 2023.

Both films feature Vikram, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Karthi, Trisha and Ravi Mohan, credited at the time as Jayam Ravi, alongside a large ensemble. Through Karthi’s Vandiyadevan, the audience enters a world of secret messages, disputed loyalties and threats to the dynasty. Part Two resumes the crises left unresolved by the first, while bringing the painful connection between Vikram’s Aditha Karikalan and Aishwarya’s Nandini into sharper focus. Released roughly seven months apart, the films allow political intrigue and personal history to unfold together.

5. KGF

Prashanth Neel’s ‘KGF: Chapter 1’ arrived on December 21, 2018, followed by ‘KGF: Chapter 2’ on April 14, 2022. Yash and Srinidhi Shetty feature in both, while Ramachandra Raju’s Garuda dominates the first film’s opposition. Sanjay Dutt’s Adheera and Raveena Tandon’s Ramika Sen become major forces in the second.

The first chapter charts Rocky’s entry into the gold fields; the next examines the enemies and consequences that accompany his control over them. Prashanth Neel told The Times of India that splitting the story had not been the original plan.

There is an important qualification: ‘KGF’ is no longer confined to two chapters. In September 2026, Prashanth Neel said the screenplay for Chapter 3 was ready, although scheduling still needed to be resolved.

6. Pushpa

Sukumar’s ‘Pushpa: The Rise’ released on December 17, 2021, and ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’ followed on December 5, 2024. Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna and Fahadh Faasil lead the continuing story.

The first film follows Pushpa Raj’s ascent through the red-sandalwood smuggling trade and introduces his confrontation with police officer Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat. The second carries that rivalry forward while expanding Pushpa’s power and personal stakes. Sukumar explained that the material began as one complete story, but the team decided during the editing process that it worked better across two films. The producers had publicly announced the split before the first release.

As with KGF, however, “two parts” now describes the story’s beginnings: a third film, ‘Pushpa 3: The Rampage’, has been confirmed.

7. Dhurandhar

Aditya Dhar’s ‘Dhurandhar’, released on December 5, 2025, continued with ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ on March 19, 2026. Ranveer Singh leads the saga, whose ensemble includes Sara Arjun, Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan and Arjun Rampal. The first film establishes an undercover operation and the dangerous network through which Ranveer Singh’s character must move. The second takes the operation and its consequences forward.

Producer Jyoti Deshpande subsequently explained that the project had been written, envisioned and budgeted as one film. The footage from the first shooting schedule convinced the makers that the narrative could sustain two. That production history makes ‘Dhurandhar’ particularly relevant here: the division emerged while developing one overarching story.

8. Viduthalai

Vetrimaaran’s ‘Viduthalai Part 1’ released on March 31, 2023, followed by ‘Viduthalai Part 2’ on December 20, 2024. Soori, Vijay Sethupathi, Bhavani Sre and Gautham Vasudev Menon feature in the narrative, with Manju Warrier joining the second film.

The first approaches the conflict largely through Soori’s Kumaresan, a new police recruit struggling with what he witnesses. The second gives greater space to Vijay Sethupathi’s Perumal, also known as Vaathiyaar, and the experiences behind his politics. Much of the project was shot as a single film, although further portions were filmed after Part One’s release. The division does more than postpone an ending: it lets the audience reconsider the conflict through the life of the man the police are pursuing.

9. Vishwaroopam

Kamal Haasan’s ‘Vishwaroopam’ began its theatrical rollout on January 25, 2013, although its Tamil Nadu release was delayed until February 7. The Hindi version, ‘Vishwaroop’, opened on February 1. ‘Vishwaroopam II’ followed on August 10, 2018. Kamal Haasan wrote, directed and starred in both films, alongside Pooja Kumar, Andrea Jeremiah and Rahul Bose. Waheeda Rehman joined the second film’s cast.

Unlike projects divided later in production, Haasan told PTI in 2013 that he had written this story in two parts. He also described the continuation as both a sequel and a prequel: it advances the espionage plot while revealing more of his protagonist’s past and relationships. The five-year release gap was long; the underlying two-part design was already in place.

10. Rakta Charitra

Ram Gopal Varma’s ‘Rakta Charitra’ reached theatres on October 22, 2010, followed by ‘Rakta Charitra 2’ on December 3, 2010. The two-part release applies to the Hindi and Telugu versions; the Tamil version was edited into a single presentation.

Vivek Oberoi, Shatrughan Sinha, Abhimanyu Singh and Radhika Apte are among the first film’s principal performers. Suriya and Priyamani become central to the second, alongside Oberoi. Drawing on real political violence in Andhra Pradesh, the first film follows Pratap Ravi’s rise through revenge and political patronage. The second gives the opposing side of the vendetta greater prominence through Suriya’s character. The shift turns one man’s ascent into another man’s reason for retaliation, connecting the films through the consequences of violence.

11. NTR

Krish Jagarlamudi’s ‘NTR’ biopic divides its subject’s screen career and political journey between ‘NTR: Kathanayakudu’, released on January 9, 2019, and ‘NTR: Mahanayakudu’, released on February 22, 2019.

Nandamuri Balakrishna plays his father, N.T. Rama Rao, while Vidya Balan portrays Basavatarakam and Rana Daggubati plays N. Chandrababu Naidu. The first film traces NTR’s emergence as a cinema icon and moves towards his political plunge; the second picks up that transition and follows his political battles. It is a different use of the two-part format. The break marks a change in the arena in which its central figure operates, carrying a life story from film sets into electoral politics.

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12. Salaar

Prashanth Neel’s ‘Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire’ released on December 22, 2023, starring Prabhas, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Shruti Haasan, Jagapathi Babu and Sriya Reddy. Its violent struggle over Khansaar is bound to the complicated relationship between Deva and Varadha.

The announced continuation is ‘Salaar: Part 2 – Shouryaanga Parvam’. In an October 2026 update, Prashanth Neel confirmed plans to begin filming in June 2027. Prabhas leads the project, with Prithviraj and other principal performers expected to return.

13. Kalki 2898 AD

Nag Ashwin’s ‘Kalki 2898 AD’, released on June 27, 2024, brings Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone and Kamal Haasan into a futuristic narrative rooted in mythology. Its ending opens up the larger conflict rather than resolving it.

Nag Ashwin is directing the continuation, with Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan and Kamal Haasan central to the ongoing production. In a September 2026 interview with Variety India, he said he hoped to finish filming by mid-2027 and indicated 2028 as a likely release year.

14. Devara

Koratala Siva’s ‘Devara: Part 1’ released on September 27, 2024, with Jr NTR in dual roles alongside Saif Ali Khan and Janhvi Kapoor. Its coastal setting, rivalries and final revelation establish material for the announced ‘Devara: Part 2’.

Koratala Siva had explained the split before the first release: as filming progressed, the expanding world and its characters needed more room than one film allowed. The distinction now is between that declared storytelling plan and a settled production calendar. Although producer Sudhakar Mikkilineni has rejected shelving rumours, later reporting continued to describe uncertainty around the schedule. Part Two has no confirmed release date, and a final cast announcement for the continuation should not be assumed from the first film’s credits.