Kalki 2898 AD

Kalki 2898 AD (stylized as KALKI 2898-A.D) is an upcoming Indian epic science fiction film written and directed by Nag Ashwin based on a dystopian world. It is produced by C. Aswani Dutt under the banner of Vyjayanthi Movies. The film stars an ensemble cast including Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Deepika Padukone and Disha Patani.

Kalki 2898 A.D
Official film logo
Directed byNag Ashwin
Written byNag Ashwin
Dialogues by
Produced byC. Aswani Dutt
Starring
CinematographyDjordje Stojiljkovic
Edited byKotagiri Venkateswara Rao
Music bySanthosh Narayanan
Production
company
Distributed bySri Venkateswara Creations
Pen Studios
Release date
  • 12 January 2024 (2024-01-12)
CountryIndia
Languages
  • Telugu
  • Hindi
Budget₹600 crore[1]

The film was announced under the working title Project K in February 2020 coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Vyjayanthi Movies. However, the production was delayed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Filming began in July 2021 in a futuristic set at Ramoji Film City, in Hyderabad. It was shot simultaneously in Telugu and Hindi.[2][3]

Kalki 2898 AD is made on a budget of ₹600 crore (US$75 million), making it the most expensive Indian film ever made. The film's music score is composed by Santhosh Narayanan with cinematography by Djordje Stojiljkovic and production design by Nitin Zihani Choudhary. Kalki 2898 AD is scheduled to be released in cinemas in 2024.[4]

Cast

Production

Development

Following the 2018 biographical film Mahanati, director Nag Ashwin stated in August 2019 that he has been working on an original story and screenplay for a long time which would go on floors soon.[5] The same month, Vyjayanthi Movies revealed their plans to begin Ashwin's film in September that year and invited visual artists, designers and writers to join the production.[6]

Vyjayanthi Movies officially announced in February 2020 that their next film with Ashwin would star Prabhas.[7] It is intended to mark 50 years since the establishment of their studio.[8] The film is produced by Ashwin's father-in-law C. Aswani Dutt.[9]

Casting
Kalki 2898-A.D marks Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone's debut in Telugu cinema.

In July 2020, Hindi film actress Deepika Padukone was signed to play the lead role opposite Prabhas. Padukone felt that she was "beyond thrilled" to join the production while Ashwin stated that her character would be "surprise" as it was something which "no mainstream lead has [ever] done before".[10] The film marks Padukone's debut in Telugu cinema.[11] Bollywood Hungama reported that her role was initially "not substantial" but was improved to suit her stardom.[12] In October, Amitabh Bachchan was cast in a full-length role in the film.[13] Ashwin stated that his role was "so important that his character's name was the working title of an early draft".[14] The film would be Bachchan's first full-length role in a Telugu film, following his cameo appearances in Manam (2014) and Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy (2019).[15]

In May 2022, Disha Patani joined the cast, marking her return to Telugu cinema after Loafer (2015).[16] In June 2023, Kamal Haasan joined the cast, marking his return to Telugu and Hindi cinema.[17]

Pre-production

The film was recognised as "Project K" which served as the working title of the film.[18] Ashwin stated that the film needed high-end technology and futuristic vehicles to be developed for the film. While they can be recreated using computer-generated imagery (CGI), Ashwin wanted them to feel "authentic and genuine", therefore opted to build these vehicles from scratch with a dedicated team of engineers.[19] In March 2022, Ashwin requested businessman Anand Mahindra to provide technical support to build such type of vehicles.[20]

A few days later, Mahindra responded that their company Mahindra & Mahindra would assist the production team from their Mahindra Research Valley campus in Chennai.[21] In July 2021, the makers have erected a futuristic set at Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad where a significant portion of filming is expected to take place.[22]

In August 2020, A. R. Rahman was initially approached to compose music for the film. Rahman did not sign the film,[23] and Ashwin retained technicians from his earlier film Mahanati (2018), namely, composer Mickey J. Meyer and cinematographer Dani Sanchez-Lopez.[24] But later, Serbian cinematographer, Djordje Stojiljkovic, replaced Dani Sanchez-Lopez as the official cinematographer of the film. In February 2023, Dutt stated in an interview that Santhosh Narayanan replaced Meyer as the composer, along with a female Bollywood composer composing a song for the film.[25] Singeetam Srinivasa Rao joined the project to serve as a mentor.[26]

Kalki 2898 AD is estimated to be mounted at a budget of ₹600 crore (US$75 million), making it the most expensive Indian film ever made.[1]

Filming
Ramoji Film City, where parts of the film were shot.

Initially, the film was planned to begin its regular shoot in November 2020. However, it was postponed to the following year due to the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic.[27] Principal photography commenced in Hyderabad in July 2021 on the occasion of Guru Purnima, following a muhurat shot featuring Bachchan.[28] Prabhas and Padukone joined the production in December 2021 and scenes featuring Bachchan, Prabhas and Padukone were shot.[29][30] Second schedule of the shoot took place in February 2022.[31]

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 would allow the production team to take time and prepare the gadgets and property to be used in this science fiction film. Therefore, the production of the film is expected to take longer than usual.[32] DIY Arri Alexa 65 camera is being used to shoot the film, thus making it the first Indian film to use this technology.[33]

Prabhas was expected to start filming his solo portions in April 2022,[34] however, his knee surgery led to a delay of his upcoming projects including Salaar and Kalki 2898 AD.[35] 90% of the shoot is being done in Ramoji Film City.[36] In June, Bachchan shot for a scene at Raidurg metro station.[37] In July, Padukone and Prabhas shot for a car chase sequence in Hyderabad.[38] Prabhas completed shooting majority of his portions by the end of this schedule.[39]

Principal photography of the film was expected to be completed by January 2023, following which post-production and visual effects works would take around 8 months.[40] However the film was still being shot in March 2023 when Bachchan injured his ribs and took rest in Mumbai.[41] Around 70% of the filming was completed by June 2023.[42]

Marketing

On 19 July 2023, the film's first look was released.[43] It received negative response and later deleted by makers from social media handles and uploaded with some changes which also received criticism.[44][45] At the 2023 San Diego Comic-Con, the new title for the film was officially announced and the teaser trailer was debuted at the event.[46] Nag Ashwin, Prabhas, Kamal Haasan and C. Aswani Dutt were present at the event.[47]

Release

Kalki 2898 AD is scheduled to be released in cinemas on 12 January 2024.[48] Initially aimed for a 2022 release, it was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and production works.[9] In July 2022, producer Dutt stated that they were planning to release the film in January 2024.[40][49]

The film is planned to be released in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada and English languages.[50]

References
  1. "Project K: From Prabhas to Deepika Padukone, here's how much actors are getting paid". Pinkvilla. 26 June 2023. Archived from the original on 26 June 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023. Reportedly, 600 crores is being spent to make this multi-starrer film.
  2. "Kamal Haasan & Director Nag Ashwin Interview: Kalki 2898 AD and Comic-Con 2023". YouTube. Collider Interviews. Retrieved 8 October 2023. Some scenes would definitely be more impactful if we are shooting it in Hindi. So we are shooting it in two languages...
  3. "Has Prabhas and Deepika Padukone's 'Kalki 2898 AD' release been postponed to May 2024?". The Times of India. 24 July 2023. Archived from the original on 26 July 2023. Retrieved 27 July 2023. It was simultaneously shot in Telugu and Hindi and will have a wide release in India and around the world
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