Nag Ashwin's Kalki 2898 AD was one of the biggest Indian films of 2024, pulling in over ₹1,000 crore worldwide and setting up an ambitious sequel. More than a year later, that sequel, informally called Kalki 2, is finally on floors, but a mix of scheduling gridlock and a high-profile cast exit means fans are in for a longer wait.
Speaking at the pre-release event of Dulquer Salmaan's I'm Game, Nag Ashwin gave an update on the sequel, saying, "The planets have aligned and even taken a round. So, we will begin shooting again when they align and can take another round. Not much. We shot only about 10 days. Once Prabhas garu is free, we will shoot in a long stretch."
Principal photography on Kalki 2898 AD: Part 2 got underway earlier this year in Hyderabad, and the first actors in front of the camera weren't the film's lead but its veteran co-stars. Amitabh Bachchan, reprising his role as the immortal Ashwatthama, and Kamal Haasan, returning as the antagonist Supreme Yaskin, shot preliminary portions together on sets built for the sequel.
For Bachchan and Haasan, it was a personal reunion as much as a professional one, the two hadn't shared a set since 1985's Geraftaar, and Bachchan spoke warmly on his blog about working with Haasan again after decades. Notably, the two actors did not appear in scenes together in the first film, so their scenes this time mark a new pairing for the franchise.
Despite the promising start, director Nag Ashwin has been candid that the shoot has barely scratched the surface. Speaking publicly, he confirmed that only around 10 days of filming have been completed so far, with the rest on hold until lead star Prabhas can commit substantial blocks of time.
The holdup comes down to Prabhas' extraordinarily packed slate. Beyond Kalki 2, he's currently juggling the war drama Fauzi, Sandeep Reddy Vanga's action film Spirit, and the long-awaited Salaar: Part 2 – Shouryaanga Parvam. With Fauzi and Spirit both eyeing releases in late 2026 and early 2027 respectively, and Salaar 2 still working around director Prashanth Neel's other commitments, Prabhas currently does not have the uninterrupted stretch of time that a project of Kalki 2's scale needs. As Ashwin himself put it, the plan is to shoot in "a long stretch" once Prabhas is fully free, rather than in more piecemeal bursts.
Deepika Padukone, who played Sumathi in the first film, will not be returning for the sequel, after Vyjayanthi Movies confirmed in a pointed statement on X saying the two sides "were unable to finalise a partnership." Reports suggest the exit followed unresolved talks over pay and working hours, with Padukone who became a mother in 2024, seeking more predictable schedules, echoing her earlier exit from Vanga's Spirit.
Her replacement remains unconfirmed, with names like Sai Pallavi and Alia Bhatt doing the rounds online, though Nag Ashwin has only said the character itself isn't going anywhere.
Early industry chatter had suggested the makers were racing to fast-track the sequel, but the reality on the ground tells a different story. With just a handful of shooting days completed and Prabhas' calendar booked well into 2027 across multiple films, a 2026 or even early-2027 release is no longer realistic. Current estimates from trade sources point to a theatrical release sometime in late 2027 at the earliest, with several reports now suggesting 2028 is more likely once shooting, VFX, and post-production are accounted for.