EXCLUSIVE | 'Kalki 2898 AD' director Nag Ashwin: 'Our first expectation was to get our budget back, if movies are not working today, it's because…'

The latest blockbuster “Kalki 2898 AD” is taking the nation by storm, garnering immense success at the box office and receiving widespread acclaim for its stunning visual effects (VFX). Netizens are buzzing about the film, with many claiming they’ve never seen anything like this in Indian cinema. Fans are drawing comparisons to Hollywood films, while some are praising Nag Ashwin’s magnum opus as a visual wonder, especially in its 3D format.

In an exclusive interview with Firstpost, the filmmaker spoke about what his box-office expectations were, bringing one of the biggest ensembles of all time, and mixing mythology, Mahabharata, and mirth all together in one film.

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Edited excerpts from the interview

Since this is the most expensive film that India has ever seen, what were your box office expectations just one day before the release?

Basically, to get our budget back. That was the first box office expectation. And everything beyond that was a bonus. I think my producer also had said that we make these films whatever we made for the past 10 years, that we’ve been together, we made it because we fully believe in the story and we believe in what this film can do for the industry or for the audience. So this was one of those. And obviously, we want to make our budget back. That was the first expectation. And we’re happy with it then.

Prabhas' character has a terrific introduction shot. What is the importance of a hero’s entry for you and how to shoot it correctly?

I think, especially in this film, the hero intro shot was a mix. It was also a hero intro shot, but it was also a little bit of a spin on that. We just wanted to show that it is a bit over the top. The hero is also human. And he’s a real person, so he can fall asleep, and he’s lazy to fight. So that’s what we were doing.

Which is your favorite scene from the film and why if you have to choose?

I think maybe the interval scene is one of my favorites from the film. Where it intercuts with all the 3 characters and Deepika walking out from the tunnel. I think that is one of my favorites scenes.

Most of the movies in this genre, be it sci fi, which are based against the backdrop of mythology, they tend to get a lot serious. But you as a director have added a lot of humor, a lot of, may I say, comedy? So how did you manage that blend? Because we get a reference of the Mahabharata, but we also see a lot of humor. Please talk to me about this blend.

I feel humor is like something that is the most natural thing to us as humans or something. We just like to smile, and we like to laugh. Like, I think even in the Mahabharata, I don’t think everyone is so serious. I think people are probably making some small jokes here and there. So I enjoy humor and I enjoy, Prabhas or Bhairava to have that side. I don’t think I’m sort of bored of just being like a macho and angry man and hating people and all that. So I enjoyed this character. I’m glad he enjoyed it too.

You are not showing the film at reduced ticket prices. There is no buy 1 get 1 offer. People are actually organically flocking to the theaters to see the film. Does that add a lot more confidence in you as a filmmaker about what you have made your product?

I mean, definitely. If people are going to watch the film, If a film works and the story is good and they connect to it, they will watch it. I think that has been clear time and again. Whenever, theaters or anything has gone down, every time there’s a good movie, it works. And if movies are not working, it’s only because something’s wrong with the story.

What made you zero down the cast because this is arguably one of the biggest ensembles that we have seen?

It’s the other way around. You should ask what made them agree to do this film because for us, it’s an easy choice. We’re choosing some of the best actors that are there in the country. So, we chose them. Luckily, they chose us. So that’s our luck.

And what was the prep for you as a director to design Amitabh Bachchan and Kamal Hassan’s looks?

Bachchan sir’s was definitely the first one that we did, and it had a lot of prosthetic, and we had to find a way to incorporate that gem in the forehead and all of that. It was interesting, the look and everything, but it was also pretty straightforward and fast because Bachchan sir was very cooperative with the whole thing and Preeti the one who did his makeup, was pretty fast, and we figured it out. I think Kamal Sirs look was a very tricky one. It required multiple things to come together. It required VFX. It required prosthetics. It required the way you shot it on set live. It required so many things to come together. And for me, also, Kamal sir was a personal challenge because that man has done, like, almost every kind of look and every kind of role possible. How do you do something that feels new for him? So it just felt like he really needed to push the envelope there. So, we really tried a lot, and I think it worked out.

One word to describe Prabhas.
Strong.

Amitabh Bachchan

Legend.

Kamal Hassan

Encyclopaedia.

Deepika Padukone

Effortless.