Kalki 2898 AD's trailer was released on Vyjayanthi Network's YouTube channel on June 10, 2024, and clocked 29 million views in the first 23 hours. The much-awaited science-fiction film's visuals impressed the netizens and once again brought the Bollywood vs Hollywood debate right into the spotlight. The film is directed by Nag Ashwin, who is the man behind legendary actress, Savitri Ganesan's biographical drama, Mahanti. The filmmaker impressed the critics and audiences with his work and even won the Filmfare Award for Best Director [Telugu] for Mahanti at the 66th Filmfare Awards.
Nag Ashwin made his directorial debut in 2015 with the film, Yevade Subramanyam. After Mahanti's success, he directed Pitta Kathalu, which impressed the critics with his work. However, it was in February 2020 when Nag Ashwin shocked everyone when he announced he was all set to work on a big-budget sci-fi film under the banner of Vyjayanti Movies, which Chalasani Aswani Dutt owns.
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The production was delayed for over a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Nag Ashwin didn't surrender in front of the challenges. The filmmaker kick-started the shooting of his dream project in July 2021 at the famous Ramoji Film City, where he assembled a futuristic set. In the following months, Amitabh Bachchan confirmed the speculations that he was playing an essential role in Nag Ashwin's Project K (now titled as Kalki 2898 AD). Kamal Haasan's involvement remained in the shadows for a long time, but the megastar confirmed in June 2023 that he is a part of the film.
However, it was the year 2023 when Nag Ashwin created history for Indian cinema. The director attended the iconic San Diego Comic-Con, as he officially titled his film from 'Project K' to 'Kalki 2898 AD'. It was a historic moment for Indian cinema, as Kalki 2898 AD became the first Indian film, whose teaser was played at San Diego Comic-Con. In a conversation with a news portal, Nag Ashwin revealed that he changed the name to Kalki 2898 AD because he wanted to show an amalgamation of science and mythology.
Nag Ashwin's assembled a stellar cast for his aspirational project, Kalki 2898 AD, that includes the likes of Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Kamal Haasan, Disha Patani, Rajendra Prasad, Saswata Chatterjee, Keerthy Suresh, and many more. As per the reports, Kalki 2898 AD is made on a budget of Rs. 600 crore. Before the release of the Kalki 2898 AD trailer, the mammoth figure was termed as an 'attention seeking' strategy by the netizens on social media.
However, opinions changed drastically after the trailer was dropped, as people were stunned by the VFX and set design of Nag Ashwin's film. Apart from spending a huge amount of money on the film's visual appeal, Nag Ashwin's stellar cast also charged hefty fees to work in Kalki 2898 AD. So, without further ado, let's talk about some of the highest-paid actors in Nag Ashwin's film, who also play important roles in this sci-fi movie.
Prabhas is playing the character named 'Bhairava' in Nag Ashwin's Kalki 2898 AD. As per the film's trailer, he is working for the 'bad guys', and it looks like he will switch sides later in the movie. Talking about his fee, Prabhas reportedly charged a whopping sum of Rs. 150 crore. Despite three back-to-back not so convincing films, Salaar: Part 1 - Ceasefire, Adipurush, Radhe Shyam, to his name, he still managed to get such a hefty paycheck, which speaks volumes about his aura and crazy fan-following in South Indian cinema.
Deepika Padukone is playing a unique character in Nag Ashwin's film, Kalki 2898 AD. From fighting against the bad guys to saving her unborn child from the film's antagonist, not much has been revealed about her character. Deepika reportedly charged Rs. 20 crore for working in the film, which is a major hike for the actress, who received Rs. 15 crore for her last film, Fighter.
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There's no denying the fact that more than Prabhas, it is Amitabh Bachchan, whose character turned the most heads. For the uninitiated, Big B portrays the role of Mahabharat's major character, Ashwatthama, who is guarding Deepika Padukone and her unborn child from the villain in Kalki 2898 AD. For playing such an important role, Amitabh Bachchan charged Rs. 18 crore.
Despite having little screen time in Kalki 2898 AD's trailer, Disha Patani has been ruling the headlines since the release of the film's trailer. While some netizens suggest that she is playing Prabhas' love interest in the film, some predict that she will betray him. Amidst all the theories surrounding her character, Disha Patani is excited to shock the viewers with her mysterious character in the film. The actress charged just Rs. 2 crore for her role in the film, which is the exact amount she received for her previous film, Yodha.
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The legendary actor, Kamal Haasan is reportedly playing the film's main antagonist, 'Kali'. The actor's mere glimpse in the film's trailer was enough to create a stir on social media. Talking about the fee he charged for his role in Kalki 2898 AD, Kamal Haasan received a sum of Rs. 20 crore for playing the main villain of Nag Ashwin's film. There's no denying that people are super-excited to witness Kamal Haasan and Amitabh Bachchan's battle in the film, as it will be a moment where 'cinema will peak'.
What are your thoughts on Nag Ashwin's Kalki 2898 AD? Let us know.
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