The most-awaited premiere of JJ Rajamouli’s film "Baahubali 2: The Conclusion" was cancelled today following the demise of veteran Bollywood actor-politician Vinod Khanna, who died on Thursday aged 70.

In a statement released by the tem of Bahubli including Karan Johar, Rajamouli and others, they said: “We are deeply saddened by the loss of our beloved, the legendary Vinod Khanna. The demise has come as a huge shock to all of us. As a mark of respect for our dearly departed, the premiere event of ‘Baahubali : The Conclusion‘ is now cancelled."

Karan, who is releasing the Hinid version of Bahubali 2, later tweeted: “As a mark of respect to our beloved Vinod Khanna the entire team of Baahubali has decided to cancel the premiere tonight." Rajamouli said in his twitter message: "RiP Vinod Khanna ji. As a mark of respect to the legendry actor, premieres of Baahubali2 in Mumbai are cancelled."

Otherwise, the film Bahubali 2 is set for release tomorrow with Prabhas and Rana Daggubati starring in it besides thousands of behind and on the scene artists, technicians and talented persons.

Vinod Khanna was suffering from cancer for quite some time and passed away on Thursday morning at Mumbai’s HN Reliance Hospital at 11:20 am due to advanced bladder carcinoma, after he was hospitalized on March 31. He is survived by wife Kavita Khanna and his four children, Rahul Khanna, Akshaye Khanna, Sakshi Khanna and Shraddha Khanna.

Vinod Khanna started his film career in 1969 and after several hits like"Mere Apne", "Insaaf" "Parvarish" "Muqaddar Ka Siqandar", "Qurbani", "Dayavaan", "Mera Gaon Mera Desh" "Chandni" "The Burning Train" and "Amar, Akbar, Anthony", left the Bollywood and joined Osho Rajneesh Ashram and moved around the world with him for over five years before returning to cinema unsuccessfully.

He later joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and became Lok Sabha member from Punjab’s Gurdaspur constituency and a minister in Vajpayee government.