“Kalki 2898 AD,” the ambitious sci-fi film directed by Nag Ashwin, has taken the global box office by storm, grossing over $84 million worldwide and debuting at No. 3 globally. Now, in an exclusive interview with Variety, Ashwin has revealed exciting plans for the sequel, promising an epic confrontation between the film’s legendary stars.
The movie, which boasts an estimated budget of $72 million, making it one of the most expensive Indian films ever produced, blends elements of Indian mythology with futuristic technology. Set in a dystopian future, it follows the warrior Bhairava (Prabhas) as he becomes entangled in an ancient prophecy, with Amitabh Bachchan playing the immortal Ashwatthama and Kamal Haasan as the antagonist Supreme Yaskin.
Ashwin’s vision for the film stemmed from a long-standing desire to combine the mythological battles of the “Mahabharata” with sci-fi worlds like “Star Wars” and “X-Men.” This ambitious project, produced by Vyjayanthi Movies, required a complex production process involving VFX houses across India and internationally.
The director highlighted the challenges of maintaining perspective over the four-year production period, emphasizing the importance of holding onto the original vision while adapting to the evolving project. A particular highlight for Ashwin was filming the confrontation between Amitabh Bachchan and Prabhas, which he described as “surreal.”
Looking ahead to Part 2, Ashwin revealed that approximately 25-30 days of filming have already been completed, with significant action sequences still to be shot. He teased that the sequel will wrap up all loose ends, with the centerpiece being a face-off between Yaskin, now wielding the powerful Gandiva weapon, and the formidable warriors Karna (Prabhas) and Ashwatthama (Bachchan).
The director also touched on the expanding “Kalki 2898 AD” universe, mentioning the completion of two more episodes of the animated prequel series “B&B: Bujji and Bhairava” for Prime Video.
Ashwin expressed his gratitude for the film’s reception, noting the initial apprehension about how Indian audiences would respond to a sci-fi film of this scale. He stated, “We’re extremely happy and grateful that people have accepted the film for what it is fully and have been watching it multiple times. That’s really the barometer of whether a movie is successful.”
International expansion plans are also in the works, with talks underway for a Japanese release in the latter half of this year. Ashwin believes the Japanese market, which has proven successful for previous Prabhas films, will particularly appreciate “Kalki 2898 AD.”
As “Kalki 2898 AD” continues its successful run, fans can look forward to an even more epic and action-packed sequel, promising to further push the boundaries of Indian cinema on the global stage.
