Kalki 2898 AD director Nag Ashwin opens up on film’s Mahabharat connection

There has been a lot of speculation about the concept and storyline of the Prabhas-Deepika Padukone-starrer Kalki 2898 AD ever since the film was announced. At a recent event, filmmaker Nag Ashwin talked about the subject.

Speaking at the Synapse event in Gurgaon, Nag opened up on the expansive timeline of his film. He stated, “The film starts with Mahabharat and ends in 2898 AD. It spans six thousand years. We tried to create worlds, imagining what they would be like while still keeping it Indian and not making it look like Blade Runner.”

The Mahanati director also explained the reason for setting the futuristic timeline at 2898 AD, adding, “6000 years behind 2898 AD is 3102 BC, which is when the last avatar of Krishna is believed to have passed.”

Kalki 2898 AD boasts a massive ensemble cast. Besides Prabhas and Deepika, the film stars Amitabh Bachchan, Disha Patani, and Kamal Haasan in prominent roles. The film is produced by Chalasani Aswini Dutt, Swapna Dutt, and Priyanka Dutt under their family banner Vyjayanthi Movies, which also produced Nag’s 2018 film Mahanati.

Earlier in January, Kalki 2898 AD confirmed May 9 to be the release date for their action spectacle.