A star who is hailed by fans as "India's Biggest Superstar" quickly became meme material.

Fans hoped things would change in his upcoming films like Fauzi and Spirit. Many believed director Hanu Raghavapudi would present Prabhas in his best form in Fauzi. But those hopes might have crashed after Prabhas' recent appearance in an interview with Santosh Sobhan during promotions for Couple Friendly.

In the interaction, Santosh Sobhan said that instead of asking for gifts if the film became a hit, he simply wanted to meet Prabhas, calling that his real "blockbuster moment." Prabhas responded by saying he felt like falling in love after watching the film and that he liked it very much.

However, what caught attention was Prabhas' appearance. While he looked decent, many felt he was nowhere near his best. The same puffiness, slightly tired expression, lazy voice modulation, and unappealing hairstyle were noticed again.

Some fans continue to defend him, posting statements like, "In the era of Botox and surgeries, Prabhas chose to stay 100 percent natural." Similar defenses were seen during Salaar, Kalki 2898 AD, and The Raja Saab. But after releases, when trolling starts, the same fans shift blame onto directors for not presenting him well.

The reality is simple. Directors can only do so much. Maintaining fitness, grooming, and screen presence is ultimately the actor's responsibility. Prabhas is still in his forties. By Tollywood standards, that is not old for a hero. With the right effort, he can easily regain his peak look.

Otherwise, this cycle will continue. Fans will praise him before release and then blame directors after release.

Now, all eyes are on Fauzi. The hope is that Prabhas looks far better on screen than he currently appears off screen and that Hanu Raghavapudi presents him like a true pan India star, sharp, fit, and commanding, not like what happened in The Raja Saab.