Director Nag Ashwin has confirmed that the sequel to Kalki 2898 AD is already underway and that continuous shooting will resume from next month. Speaking to the media, Nag Ashwin said: “The shooting of Kalki 2 has already begun. We are making arrangements to shoot continuously starting next month and complete it at a rapid pace.”
The announcement puts one of Indian cinema’s most anticipated sequels firmly back on track after months of delays linked to cast availability and scale of production.
Where the film stands right now
Amitabh Bachchan and Kamal Haasan have already begun shooting for the Kalki sequel, with the former sharing a few snapshots from the sets on his blog. Prabhas is yet to join these schedules. Nag Ashwin is currently filming sequences involving Kamal Haasan and other cast members, while Prabhas is expected to join the upcoming schedules.
According to an exclusive report by Pinkvilla, the film is slated for a theatrical release in December 2027, with the shoot expected to wrap up by April next year.
Post-production will be extensive
The production scale of the sequel is significantly larger than the first film. A source said: “The makers of Kalki 2 are planning an extensive post-production process, given the heavy visual effects and world-building required for the futuristic spectacle.”
Director Nag Ashwin had earlier addressed this in a podcast. He explained that the scale and complexity of the sequel were far greater than the first film, requiring additional time.
Ashwin also pointed out that coordinating the schedules of the lead actors was a challenge, and that the pre-visualised action sequences were significantly bigger than those in the first film. He added that the post-production process for such a project generally takes even longer than filming itself.
Also Read: From Baahubali to Kalki: How Prabhas conquered overseas box office
What the sequel will focus on
Addressing concerns about Prabhas’s limited screen presence in the first film, Ashwin clarified that Kalki 2898 AD had been more focused on world-building and establishing the backstories of Deepika Padukone’s Sumati and Amitabh Bachchan’s Ashwatthama. This was to lay the groundwork for the character of Karna, played by Prabhas.
Ashwin confirmed that Prabhas will dominate the sequel. The second installment will focus on the stories of Karna and Ashwatthama, placing Prabhas in the spotlight.
The sequel is likely to delve deeper into the mythology and emotions established in the first film. While plot details are under wraps, insiders suggest that Supreme Yaskin will take center stage, along with several new twists and characters.
Female lead change: Deepika out, Sai Pallavi in?
One of the biggest developments surrounding the sequel concerns the female lead. While Deepika Padukone played a key role in the first installment, she has reportedly opted out of the sequel. Rumors suggest that Sai Pallavi may replace her. Neither the production house nor the actors have formally confirmed this casting change.
The producer’s confidence
Producer Swapna Dutt had earlier spoken about how the team is better ready for the sequel compared to the first film. She said: “We’re definitely smarter than the last one. We know the world better. We’ll know the production better. We’ve already identified CG companies and stuff. The script is almost kind of locked, and we’ve shot 35% of the film already, so we’ll be much faster.”
What the first film was about
Kalki 2898 AD begins at the end of the Mahabharata’s Kurukshetra War, marking the onset of the Kali Yuga in 3102 BC. After the war, Ashwatthama is entrusted by Lord Krishna with the responsibility of protecting Lord Vishnu’s final avatar when the time comes.
Six thousand years later, in 2898 AD, the world has transformed into a harsh dystopia ruled through fear by a self-proclaimed god known as Supreme Yaskin. While most people strive to appease him in hopes of gaining access to his abundant land, known as the Complex, others rise in rebellion against his tyranny.
As hope begins to fade, a new light emerges in the form of an unborn child carried by SUM-80, also known as Sumathi. With Yaskin and his followers determined to extract the child’s life force, an epic tale unfolds, setting the stage for the rest of the saga.
Box office success of part one
Kalki 2898 AD was made on a massive Rs 600 crore budget and released worldwide on June 27, 2024 in standard, IMAX, and 3D formats. The film grossed over $140 million globally before ‘Pushpa 2: The Rise’ overtook in December 2024. The film ranked as the second highest-grossing Indian film of 2024 and earned the Telangana Gaddar Film Award for Best Feature Film.
Cast and crew
The film was directorial of Nag Ashwin, production of C. Aswini Dutt under Vyjayanthi Movies, with music by Santhosh Narayanan, cinematography by Djordje Stojiljkovic, and editing by Kotagiri Venkateswara Rao. The sequel retains the same director and production house, with Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, and Kamal Haasan confirmed to return. The cast beyond these three remains a subject of ongoing reports.