Even as social media and the small screen are filled with content pertaining to the promotions of RRR, director S S Rajamouli is uncertain about when the Alia Bhatt-starrer will finally see the light of day. However, what he is certain about is the trick to crack the code of making a smashing pan-India movie that can outperform the finest from Bollywood.

The Baahubali hitmaker shares the tricks of the trade with mid-day. “You have to be honest, persistent and a believer. When you write an honest story, ask yourself if it will connect with everyone, right from Kashmir to Kanyakuamri. [Does] it have an emotion that is universal, or regional? Once you ask yourself that, be honest with the answer. If the answer is no, make it a regional film. If you don’t do that, then no matter how much money you pump into it, you can’t make it a crossover film,” he says.

What if the answer is yes? “Then you have to believe you can take it ahead. If it’s not easy, make every effort to tell that story anyway.”

So engrossing are Rajamouli’s ventures that despite its glamorous reign, fans haven’t had enough of the Baahubali franchise. “That’s a different world [that] is difficult to bring to an end. Work [on the third edition] is in progress in different branches. We will make an announcement once we are [in control].”