The film is generating buzz not just for its remarkable visual effects and mythological themes but also for its star-studded cast, featuring appearances by both actors and directors.
Stills of Vijay Deverakonda, Mrunal Thakur, Dulquer Salmaan, Ram Gopal Varma and SS Rajamouli. (Facebook)
Nag Ashwin’s Kalki 2898 AD, which hit the screens on 27 June, in multiple languages, received mixed reviews but mostly positive ones. Special appearances by prominent actors and filmmakers across India broadened its appeal.
Apart from Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Deepika Padukone, and Disha Patani, the film features cameo appearances by Dulquer Salmaan, Vijay Deverakonda, Mrunal Thakur, Malvika Nair, and acclaimed directors SS Rajamouli, KV Anudeep, and Ram Gopal Varma.
Following its theatrical release, fans shared images and videos of their favourite stars on social media. However, some of those posts were removed due to copyright violations.
In a live Instagram session held a day before the release, Prabhas confirmed the appearances of Dulquer Salmaan and Vijay Deverakonda. He expressed gratitude to these stars for enhancing the film’s scale by “graciously agreeing” to be part of it.
A collage of stills from ‘Kalki 2898 AD’.
Although Vijay Deverakonda did not discuss his cameo, he extended his best wishes to the team of Kalki 2898 AD on the day of its release. Among the impactful guest appearances, the standout is his portrayal of Arjun from Mahabharata. The actor had a brief yet crucial role in the film. Fans have been celebrating it on social media.
However, SS Rajamouli’s surprise cameo is the highlight of all. In a fan-shared video, the director was seen driving the futuristic car. He humorously quips about keeping Prabhas busy for the next ten years, referring to their significant collaboration, the Baahubali franchise.
Mrunal Thakur expressed her excitement and confidence in the project, produced by Vyjayanthi Movies. Having previously worked with them on Sita Ramam (2022), she shared, “When I was approached for Nag Ashwin’s film, I didn’t hesitate for a moment to say ‘yes’. I have full trust in the makers. Being part of such a monumental venture and visionary filmmaking was something I couldn’t pass up.”
Fans experienced surprises throughout Kalki 2898 AD, but one of the most intriguing mysteries was the actor portraying Lord Krishna, whose identity remained hidden in silhouette throughout the film, leading to numerous fan theories.
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Many fans speculated that Telugu actor Nani portrayed Krishna, while Mahesh Babu’s fans expressed a desire for him to take on the role in the sequel. Amid these discussions, actor Krishnakumar, also known as KK, disclosed his role through an Instagram post. Starting his career as a theater artist, he garnered acclaim for playing pilot Che, in Soorarai Pottru (2020), one of the protagonist’s close friends.
Krishnakumar entered the film industry with the 2010 film, Kadhalagi and later took a hiatus. During this period, he served as the artistic director of The Little Theatre Group. He returned to cinema in 2020 with the Amazon Prime anthology, Putham Pudhu Kaalai. Further, in 2022, he was seen in Dhanush’s Maaran.
Actor Arjun Das expressed his gratitude to the makers of Kalki 2898 AD for the opportunity to voice Lord Krishna in the film. He shared on X (formerly Twitter) that he also lent his voice to the Telugu and Hindi versions.
Thank you Abhi ♥️🤗
The credit doesn’t belong to me and should go only and only to @nagashwin7 & @SwapnaDuttCh https://t.co/YcP93L1xXU— Arjun Das (@iam_arjundas) June 27, 2024
While Kalki 2898 AD achieved the highest opening in Indian cinema history domestically, according to Sacnilk, the film experienced a significant drop of over 50% on 28 June.
Unconfirmed reports state that the film grossed ₹39.77 crore in India on its second day, marking a 50% decline from its opening day. The specific breakdown of collections, by language, has not been verified yet, but similar to the first day, Kalki 2898 AD is expected to have performed strongest in the Telugu version, followed by Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, and Malayalam.
In addition to Saswata Chatterjee, Rajendra Prasad, Shobhana, Pasupathy, and Anna Ben, Kalki 2898 AD features Amitabh Bachchan in the role of Ashwatthama, while Kamal Haasan portrays the main antagonist, Yaskin.
Haasan’s character is anticipated to have a more prominent role in the sequel. Originally named Project K, the film is reportedly one of the most expensive productions in Indian cinema, with an estimated budget of ₹600 crore. Its first glimpse was unveiled last year at the San Diego Comic-Con.
Kamal Haasan as Yaskin in ‘Kalki 2898 AD’. (X)
On the reception to Kalki 2898 AD, Kamal Haasan said, “In this one, my role is brief. I appear for only a few minutes. The substantial part of my role begins in the sequel; so I watched this film as a fan and was pleasantly surprised.”
The actor-politician commended Amitabh Bachchan’s performance in the film, expressing uncertainty about how to categorise him afterward. “I am torn between calling him a seasoned veteran or a fresh actor because he portrayed his role remarkably.”
Kamal Haasan reiterated, that there are clear indications that Indian cinema is evolving into global entertainment, and Kalki 2898 AD exemplifies this trend. Nag Ashwin skillfully navigated mythological themes without religious bias, he added.
“This film seems tailored for children. But don’t question how an adult with white hair can appreciate such movies. It taps into the inner child in all of us. It’s a commendable effort, and I’m delighted to be involved. I’m pleased that this journey will continue,” Kamal Haasan concluded.
(Edited by S Subhakeerthana)
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