6000 years later, in 2898 AD, Earth has become adystopia, with the city ofKashi standing as the last bastion of humanity. It is ruled by Supreme Yaskin, a 200-year-old demonicgod king (or warden) who lives in the Complex, a massiveinverted pyramid accessible only to the elite. Fertile women from the impoverished outskirts are forcibly recruited for Project K—an experiment aimed at harvesting a life-extending serum from artificial pregnancies. None survive the process beyond 150 days.
SUM-80, a pregnant laboratory subject, is discovered but she escapes the extraction procedure with the help of rebel agents. She is renamed Sumathi and taken toShambhala, a secret settlement that believes in the Kalki prophecy. On the journey, the rebels are ambushed by the Raiders, Yaskin's army, and bounty hunters, including Bhairava, a mercenary who longs to live in the Complex, and hisAIcar BU-JZ-1 aka Bujji. Kyra, one of the rebels, sacrifices herself. Ashwatthama—who has realised that Sumathi is pregnant with Kalki—intervenes and rescues her.
The group reaches Shambhala, where nature responds to her presence. Ashwatthama encourages her to embrace her destiny and reveals to Raia, his adolescent companion, his ancient connection toKarna through his bow,Vijaya Dhanussu. Meanwhile, Bhairava, seeking reward, strikes a deal with Commander Manas, Yaskin's enforcer, to capture Sumathi. Manipulating Luke, his Shambhalan admirer, Bhairava infiltrates Shambhala and attempts to abduct Sumathi under the disguise of Ashwatthama, but is confronted by the latter. As they clash, Manas and the Raiders launch an assault, killing Shambhala's leader Mariam and capturing Ashwatthama.
During the chaos, Bhairava unknowingly picks up Vijaya Dhanussu and a sacred leaf, triggering a transformation that reveals him as the reincarnation of Karna. Empowered, he defeats the Raiders and kills Manas to protect Sumathi, but remains unaware of his past life.
In amid-credits scene, Yaskin is injected with a sample of Sumathi's fetal serum and lifts up theGandiva, the ancient bow ofArjuna. Having gained godlike powers, he vows to reshape the world.
Amitabh Bachchan asAshwatthama, the son of sage and warriorDronacharya and an ally to theKauravas, who was cursed with immortality for attempting to kill an unbornParikshit. He has since roamed the Earth for nearly six thousand years.
Krishnakumar asKrishna, an incarnation ofVishnu, who was born during the time ofMahabharata to bring peace by aiding thePandavas; served as Prince Arjuna's charioteer and strategist during theKurukshetra War (voice byArjun Das).[12] Krishna's character appears as silhouette and without an identity. Speaking about this decision, Ashwin said that it would otherwise just become a person or an actor but the idea was to keep him dark-skinned, silhouetted, and a mysterious figure.[13]
Malvika Nair asUttara, the princess ofMatsya Kingdom; daughter-in-law of Arjuna and mother of Parikshit; the last living heir of theKuru Kingdom following the Kurukshetra War. She and her unborn baby (Parikshit) were attacked by Ashwatthama'senchanted arrow after the war ended.[14]
Mrunal Thakur as Divya, a lady who was assumed to be Kalki's mother.[15]
After the success ofMahanati in 2019,Nag Ashwin stated that he had been working on an original story, for which he had spent a long time on. He also stated that the production would begin soon.[17] The project would be funded byC. Aswani Dutt'sVyjayanthi Movies, which also fundedMahanati. The company announced on 7 August 2019 that the production would begin in September and posted acasting call for various artist positions.[18] On 26 February 2020, coinciding the occasion of the 50th year since the establishment of Dutt's house,Prabhas was announced to be the lead actor. Tentatively titledPrabhas 21 (as it is intended to be the actor's 21st film in the lead role), the production would begin after the actor completes filming forRadhe Shyam (2022).[19][20] The film was made on a production budget of ₹600 crore that included star remuneration of ₹80 crore to Prabhas, and ₹20 crore each to Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan and Deepika Padukone.[21]
The lead actor, however, reportedly decided to take therevenue sharing model, receiving ₹80 crore as advance, and a chunk of the profits would be given to him as remuneration.[22][23] In February 2021, it was reported that the filming would begin in March; however, Ashwin during the promotions for his short film inPitta Kathalu (2021) stated that due to theCOVID-19 pandemic and Prabhas' prior commitments, the filming would commence at the latter half of the year.[24] The film's official title,Kalki 2898 AD, was announced on 21 July 2023.[25] It is a reference toKalki, anavatar of Hindu deityVishnu in theHindu eschatology, according to theBhagavata Purana, and 3102 BC – traditionally thought to be the beginning ofKali Yuga after theKurukshetra War, from the death of Krishna (the film being set 6,000 years into the Kali Yuga, the era of theasura/demonKali).[26][27][28]
Ashwin co-wrote the film's script along with Rutham Samar,Sai Madhav Burra and B. S. Sarawagna Kumar, in his second consecutive film with Samar and Burra afterMahanati.[29][30] Amuhurat pooja ceremony was held on 24 July 2021 atRamoji Film City inHyderabad with the presence of the film's cast and crew. The working title was revealed to have been changed toProject K the same day.[20][31][32] Ashwin stated that the film needed high-end technology and futuristic vehicles to be developed for the film. Although they can be recreated usingcomputer-generated imagery (CGI), the director opted to build these vehicles from scratch.[33]
In March 2022, Ashwin requested businessmanAnand Mahindra to provide technical support to build such type of vehicle.[34] A few days later, Mahindra responded that their companyMahindra & Mahindra would assist the production team from theirMahindra Research Valley campus inChennai.[35] In July 2021, the makers erected a futuristic set atRamoji Film City inHyderabad where a significant portion of filming is expected to take place.[36]A. R. Rahman had been initially approached, in August 2020, to compose music for the film but the talks fell out.[37]
Ashwin retained most of his technicians, including composerMickey J. Meyer, editorKotagiri Venkateswara Rao, production designer Nithin Zihani Choudhary, cinematographerDani Sanchez-Lopez, costume designers Thota Vijay Bhaskar, Shaleena Nathani and Sahithi Patha.[38] However, Serbian cinematographer,Djordje Stojiljkovic,[39] replacedDani Sanchez-Lopez as the official cinematographer of the film. In February 2023,Santhosh Narayanan replaced Meyer as the composer.[40] Andreas Nguyen was chosen as the stunt choreographer of the film.[41]Singeetam Srinivasa Rao joined as a mentor, contributing elements of his planned script on Lord Krishna and providing creative inputs to the project.[42][43]
Prabhas would sport long hair and beard, with reporters reminiscing his look in the film withBaahubali.[44][45]Deepika Padukone was cast as the female lead,[46] in her Telugu film debut despite having starred in the unreleasedLove 4 Ever.[47]Amitabh Bachchan was confirmed to play an important role, in his Telugu film debut as he had previously only made cameo appearances inManam (2014) andSye Raa Narasimha Reddy (2019).[48] Ashwin stated that his role was "so important that his character's name [Ashwatthama] was the working title of an early draft".[49]Kamal Haasan also joined the film in an important role,[50] whileDisha Patani was also cast in an important role.[51] The film marks their return to Telugu cinema afterSubha Sankalpam (1995) andLoafer (2015), respectively.[50][51][e]
Principal photography began with the first schedule on 24 July 2021, on the occasion ofGuru Purnima, at Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad featuring Bachchan.[63] Prabhas and Padukone joined the production in December 2021 and scenes featuring both the actors and Bachchan were shot.[64][65] The second schedule of the shoot took place in February 2022.[66] Instead of shooting the entire film in a single stretch, the team divided its 80–90 days of shoot into 7–8 days every month. This actually allowed the production team to take time and prepare the gadgets and props to be used in the film. Therefore, the production of the film was expected to take longer than usual.[67] DIYArri Alexa 65 camera was used to shoot the film, thus making it the first Indian film to use this technology.[68]
Prabhas was expected to start filming his solo portions in April 2022,[69] however, his knee surgery led to a delay of his upcoming projects includingSalaar andKalki 2898 AD.[70] 90% of the shoot was done in sets built in Ramoji Film City.[71] In June, Bachchan shot for a scene atRaidurg metro station.[72] In July, Padukone and Prabhas shot for a car chase sequence in Hyderabad.[73] Prabhas completed shooting the majority of his portions by the end of this schedule.[74]
However, the film was still being shot in March 2023 when Bachchan injured his ribs and was advised to take rest in Mumbai.[75] Around 70% of the filming was completed by June 2023.[76] On 20 July 2023 atSan Diego Comic-Con,Nag Ashwin revealed that while the film was mostly shot in Telugu, they were also reshooting some scenes inHindi to make them more impactful.[77] However, the Hindi version is reportedly mostly dubbed.[78][f] A romantic track featuringPrabhas andDisha Patani was filmed in Italy in March 2024 including at theRoyal Palace of Caserta.[80][81]
DNEG and The Embassy created the film's environments and action sequences. The Embassy handled approximately 700 shots for the film and DNEG handled the principal visual effects andCGI shots for the film.[86] Their tasks included creating a desert wasteland,futuristic vehicles for high-speed chases, utilising a broad range of VFX techniques, and creating 3 distinct worlds of:Kasi,Shambhala, and the Complex.[87]
The film takes inspiration fromHinduism asKalki is the tenth and final incarnation ofVishnu, who is a messiah during theKali Yuga. Bhairava is an apparent reference toKala Bhairava, an avatar of the Hindu deityShiva.[88] A place that appears in the film,Shambhala (near modern-dayVaranasi), is prophesied to be the birthplace of Kalki in scriptures. This concept was later borrowed into theKalachakra tradition ofTibetan Buddhism where it is described a mystical kingdom somewhere beyond theHimalayas and also as a state of mind.[89][90]
Furthermore, directorNag Ashwin has openly stated thatStar Wars had a huge influence on him growing up, and that it "is subconsciously a part of my aesthetic" in the making of the film.[11] The character Luke was influenced byLuke Skywalker. The director also claimed thatGuardians of the Galaxy (2014) served as an inspiration as well.[91]Kamal Haasan showed Ashwin centenarian Tibetan monks andDorian Gray for inspiration of the look of Yaskin.[11]
The music of the film was composed bySanthosh Narayanan.[92] The audio rights of the film were acquired bySaregama.[93] The first single titled "Bhairava Anthem" was released on 16 June 2024.[94] Three more singles— "Theme of Kalki", "Ta Takkara (Complex Song)" and "Hope of Shambala"—followed on 25 June 2024, 29 June 2024, and 4 July 2024 respectively.[95][96][97] The entiresoundtrack album was released on 10 July 2024.[98][99]
The film's first look was released on 19 July 2023.[100]Kalki 2898 A.D became the firstIndian film to be presented atSan Diego Comic-Con's Hall-H on 20 July 2023. At the event, the makers unveiled the official title and a glimpse of the film, following the release of alimitedcomic strippanel depicting an important scene between "The Raiders" (followers of Kali) and Bhairava.[101][102]
On the occasion ofMaha Sivaratri, the makers released a poster revealingPrabhas's character asBhairava.[103][104] A new teaser introducing the characterAshwatthama was unveiled on 21 April 2024. Inspired by the immortal character from the ancient Indian epicMahabharata, Ashwatthama was portrayed by Amitabh Bachchan.[105] On 27 April, the makers announced the new release date with a poster featuring Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan and Deepika Padukone.[106] On 30 April 2024, Prabhas took fans of cinema and cricket by surprise as he appeared as Bhairava for anIPL promotional video duringLucknow Super Giants vsMumbai Indians.[107] On 2 May 2024, Amitabh Bachchan appeared in his character of Ashwatthama where he delivered a motivational speech to theIndian cricket team as they prepare for theICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024.[108]
On 22 May 2024, in an event inRamoji Film City inHyderabad, a teaser introducing Prabhas' Robot sidekickAIhumanoid vehicle "Bujji" was released.[109]Anand Mahindra wrote, "we are so proud of Nag Ashwin and his tribe of filmmakers who aren't afraid to think big," while he shared that the engineers atMahindra Research Valley helped theKalki 2898 AD team realise its vision for the futuristic vehicle.[110] On 27 May 2024, the makers andAmazon Prime Video announced a two-part animated prelude, titledBujji and Bhairava, which was released on the platform on 31 May 2024 as part of the Kalki Cinematic Universe.[111][112] The official trailer of the film was released on 10 June 2024.[113]Concept artists Sung Choi and Oliver Beck, alleged that the initial frames of the trailer used their artwork without permission or credits, the latter's from the artwork forStar Trek: Prodigy.[114][115] On 19 June 2024, a prerelease event was held in Mumbai, with Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Deepika Padukone, Rana Daggubati, and the film's producers attending the event.[116] The release-trailer of the film was released on 21 June 2024.[117] The theme song of the film, "Theme of Kalki", was unveiled on the evening of 23 June 2024 inLord Krishna's birthplace,Mathura,Uttar Pradesh, along the banks of theYamuna river.[118][119] Additionally, an interview conversation featuring Prabhas, Bachchan, Haasan, and Padukone, along with the producers, was also released onYouTube.[120]
Kalki 2898 AD was released in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada languages.[121] The film was initially planned to be released in 2022, but was delayed to 9 May 2024 due to theCOVID-19 pandemic and unfinished production works.[122] It was, however, postponed again from 9 May to 27 June, owing to the2024 Indian general election.[123]
Pre-bookings started in the United States on 6 June 2024, three weeks before the film's release. Nearly 4,200 tickets were sold on the first day of pre-bookings with a collection ofUS$135 thousand.[124] Pre-bookings started in the UK, Canada and in Germany on 11 June 2024, two weeks before the film's release. After the trailer was released, the advance booking for the film in the US crossed over US$760K.[125] 20,000 tickets were sold for the film's premiere in the UK.[126] Pre-bookings in the US crossed US$1 million in fewer days thanS. S. Rajamouli'sRRR (2022), thus becoming the fastest Indian film to achieve this feat.[127]
According to Indian trade sources, the prerelease business ofKalki 2898 AD included the sale of satellite, digital, music, and theatrical rights, with ₹390 crore earned from theatrical rights.[140][141] The film's overseas distribution rights were acquired by The Village Groupe for ₹80 crore.[142]
Kalki 2898 AD grossed ₹180 crore worldwide on its opening day, which was the thirdhighest first day gross for an Indian film, with over ₹95 crore gross from India.[148] The film recorded the biggest opening for an Indian film in 2024.[149] The film almost crossed ₹250 crore in two days, earning ₹149.3 crore from India.[150]Kalki 2898 AD debuted in third place at the worldwide box office, behindInside Out 2 andA Quiet Place: Day One in their opening weekends.[151] It grossed an estimated ₹484 crore worldwide from its opening weekend of four days,[152] and ₹800 crore in 11 days of release.[153] It became the fourth highest-grossing Indian film of all time in India, surpassingShah Rukh Khan'sJawan (2023) in 40 days.[154][155] During its theatrical run of over 50 days, the film has grossedest.₹1,180 crore worldwide against a production budget of ₹600 crore.[b]
WhileDeccan Chronicle mentioned mixed reviews andWION wrote that the film "failed to impress",India Today commented that the reviews were positive.[163][164][165] On thereview aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes, 77% of 39 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.1/10. The website's consensus reads: "A colourful spectacle that competes with Hollywood blockbusters while retaining its own distinctive flavor, Kalki 2898 AD marks a rousing breakthrough in Tollywood sci-fi cinema."[166]Metacritic, which uses aweighted average, assigned the film a score of 65 out of 100, based on 8 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[167]
A critic forBollywood Hungama rated the film 4 stars out of 5 and wrote, "On the whole,Kalki 2898 AD stands as a grandiose spectacle that depicts the future like never before in Indian cinema and also merges mythology seamlessly, thereby delivering a unique experience to the audiences."[168] Chirag Sehgal ofNews18 gave 4/5 stars and wrote, "It combines action with visual spectacle and mythology with technology and science – which makes the film worth watching."[169] Goutam S ofPinkvilla gave 4/5 stars and wrote, "If you are a lover of films which has a grand scale, [sic] epic narration, amazing visuals, groundbreaking performances, and unbelievable storytelling, then surely watch this feast of a movie in the screens near you."[170]The Guardian gave a rating of 4 out of 5, describing it as a "maximalist sci-fi epic that mixesMahabharata withMad Max."[171] Janani K ofIndia Today gave 3.5/5 stars and wrote, "LikeBaahubali,Kalki 2898 AD ends on a cliffhanger and paves the way for a new cinematic world altogether. The surprise cameos, even though leaked by Prabhas himself, were perfect theatrical moments."[172]Collider in its review said, "Kalki 2898 AD is a unique sci-fi epic that successfully combines supernatural elements with cutting-edge technology", while appreciating performances of the lead cast particularly Prabhas and Bachchan, and the screenplay by Nag Ashwin.[173]
Sukanya Verma ofRediff rated the film 3.5 out of 5 stars and wrote, "Prabhas may be the face ofKalki 2898 AD's heroics but the real bang for your buck is delivered in Amitabh Bachchan's indefatigable energy providing Kalki's biggest wolf-whistle moments."[174] Ronek Kotecha ofThe Times of India gave 3/5 stars and wrote, "The film's visual quality is so high that it overshadows many of its obvious flaws by engaging the audience into the atmospherics of the make-believe world of Kasi and the Complex."[175] Sashidar Adivi ofTimes Now gave 3/5 stars and wrote, "Overall, the film is a VFX wonder. The setup and the universe are brilliant, however, the writing needs introspection."[176] Avad Mohammed ofOTTPlay gave 3/5 stars and wrote, "On the whole,Kalki 2898 AD is a technically brilliant film with never-before-seen visuals in an Indian film. The presence of A-listers and amazing action episodes make for a big-screen watch. Just ignore the slow pace."[177]
Bunbury ofDeadline Hollywood wrote, "It is terrific, cathartic fun – and, given that Vishnu's next avatar has apparently yet to be born, what is described in the marketing blurbs as the Kalki Cinematic Universe can be expected to rage, burn and rip-roar for a good few editions yet, leaving audiences happily flattened with exhaustion" and praised Nag Ashwin's work.[178] B. V. S. Prakash ofDeccan Chronicle gave 3/5 stars and wrote, "Director Nag Ashwin had a reason to cast big guns like Amitabh and Kamal to carry unthinkable roles and it paid off."[179]Saibal Chatterjee ofNDTV gave 2.5/5 stars and wrote, "It falls back on the sheer sweep of mounting and execution to make up for what lacks in terms of the writing."[180] Sangeetha Devi Dundoo ofThe Hindu wrote, "Despite these shortcomings,Kalki is a brave new attempt that deserves big cheers."[181] Neeshita Nyayapathi ofHindustan Times wrote, "Nag Ashwin's dystopian film might not be flawless, but it's gutsy and intriguing enough to be watched on-screen."[182]
In late May 2024, it was reported that the film would have asequel. On 26 June 2024, a day prior to the film's release, Ashwin commented onKalki 2898 AD: Part 2 and stated that it would begin three years later.[187] During the mid-credits, it was revealed to be part of a media franchise named Kalki Cinematic Universe which had earlier been teased inBujji & Bhairava, an animated series released before the film and serving as its "prelude".[188][56]
On 29 June 2024, producer C. Aswani Dutt announced that 60% of the filming forKalki 2898 AD: Part 2 has been completed, with several major segments still remaining to be shot.[189][190] Filming is scheduled to start before 2026.[191] On 18 September 2025, the producers announced that they have officially parted ways with Deepika Padukone on the sequel owing to undisclosed reasons.[192]
^"Indian Sci-Fi Epic 'Kalki 2898 AD' Bows in Third Place Worldwide as 'Inside Out 2,' 'A Quiet Place: Day One' Lead International Box Office".Variety. 1 July 2024.Archived from the original on 1 July 2024. Retrieved1 July 2024.Vyjayanthi Movies' "Kalki 2898 AD," one of the most expensive Indian films ever made with the budget estimated to be $72 million, had a $43 million worldwide three-day weekend, including $5.4 million in North America. The film released on Thursday, June 27, across 42 territories, and its total worldwide gross is currently at $66 million, including previews and $10 million from North America, where it debuted in fifth place.
^"Prabhas's Kalki 2898 AD OTT Release Details".Deccan Chronicle. 27 June 2024.Archived from the original on 28 June 2024. Retrieved1 July 2024.The film has received mixed feedback with both critics and the public pointing out its strengths and weaknesses.
^"Kalki 2898 AD Twitter Review: Netizens hail Amitabh Bachchan's age-defying performance". WION. 27 June 2024.Archived from the original on 1 July 2024. Retrieved1 July 2024.Speaking of critics' opinion, Nag Ashwin's movie has failed to impress them. Many have slammed the convoluted plot, while others questioned whether the VFX was the only thing that the makers have solely focused on.
.jpg)
