Bhallaladeva is a fictional character and recurring antagonist of the Baahubali franchise, and the main antagonist of the movie series. The character was created by V. Vijayendra Prasad and S. S. Rajamouli and was portrayed by Rana Daggubati in the films Baahubali: The Beginning and Baahubali: The Conclusion, which were directed by Rajamouli. Fictional biography Early life Bhallaladeva is the son of Bijjaladeva and Rajamatha Sivagami Devi. He is raised by Sivagami along with his cousin Amarendra Baahubali, who is also his adoptive brother. He is a great warrior and is as equally skilled as his adoptive brother. However, he is not empathetic towards his subjects like Amarendra and has a ruthless personality. He is a traitorous prince and jealous of his adoptive brother's popularity. He is often misguided by his father Bijjaladeva to take evil steps. Rivalry with Amarendra Bhallaladeva shared a long rivalry with his adoptive brother Amarendra Baahubali, whom he was heavily jealous of. Since in his mind, being powerful and overruling his subjects was his only priority while Baahubali sought equality and harmony among all of the kingdom's citizens. Left out of the people and his mother's attention, he framed Baahubali for his assassination after he becomes king, and has Kattappa kill him. Reign as King Bhallaladeva manipulated his mother into hating Baahubali, who renounced the throne to stay married to Devasena. Bhallaladeva becomes king. After he tricks his mother into ordering Baahubali's execution, he rules with an iron fist and oppresses his subjects as well as the entire region for 25 years. He destroys Kuntala completely, leading to the creation of the rebel alliance that intended to bring him down. After torturing Devasena for 25 years, his nephew Mahendra rescues her and ends his rule. Bhallaladeva is thrown onto the funeral pyre that Devasena prepared to burn him alive to death on, by Baahubali who used the same chains that Bhallaladeva used to chain Devasena. Devasena then lights the funeral pyre with him alive on it. The fire engulfs his entire body, and he burns alive to death. He screams with pain, and dies his horrific but deserved death by burning to ashes. Reception Bhallaladeva was a great warrior and had a strong desire for power. He was always ready to kill to ascend the throne of Mahishmati and lacked compassion, a trait which Amarendra Baahubali had in abundance. While the character of Bhallaladeva seemed