Director Nag Ashwin has shared a major update on ‘Kalki 2898 AD Part 2’, revealing that the much-awaited sequel is set to enter its regular shooting phase in October 2026. The filmmaker, who recently saw the first instalment win two honours at the 72nd National Film Awards, said the team is hoping to complete the shoot by the middle of 2027 before moving into post-production.

Nag Ashwin reveals ‘Kalki 2’ shooting timeline: ‘Hopefully, we will wrap the entire shoot by mid-next year’

Speaking to Varietry India about ‘Kalki 2’, Nag Ashwin confirmed that regular filming is scheduled to begin in mid-October after the team finalised the availability of its principal cast. The director said the production had earlier filmed individual portions featuring Amitabh Bachchan and Kamal Haasan while waiting for Prabhas’ dates.“We’re starting regular shooting in mid-October, as we now have call sheets in place for all the artists. Earlier this year, we shot individual scenes featuring Kamal sir and Bachchan sir. We were waiting for Prabhas’ call sheet, and that’s now sorted. Hopefully, we will wrap the entire shoot by mid-next year and then move into post-production,” Ashwin said.He added that the team wants to complete filming before discussing a release date. “Let’s finish the shoot first; once that is done, we can talk about the release date,” the filmmaker said.The update comes after Ashwin had previously revealed that only around 10 days of shooting had been completed during an earlier schedule, with the team waiting for Prabhas to become available for the next major stretch of filming.

‘Kalki 2’ will continue the existing story, no new additions planned

While speculation around the sequel has been intense, Nag Ashwin indicated that the makers are not introducing additional characters to the existing core of the story.“No new additions. We are continuing with the story we started, and there are already so many characters in it,” he said.The filmmaker also described the larger ambition behind the franchise, suggesting that Kalki 2898 AD is being developed as more than a conventional two-part story.“It’s more than a franchise. I feel we are trying to create a world, something like a ‘Kalki’ universe. We have been exploring different stories, trying to put them together and develop this larger world,” Ashwin said.His comments come shortly after he described Kalki 2898 AD as only the beginning of the possibilities offered by Indian mythology and science fiction. He has said that concepts involving time, immortality, destruction and rebirth offer considerable scope for futuristic storytelling.

Amitabh Bachchan and Kamal Haasan reunite for ‘Kalki 2’

The sequel brings Amitabh Bachchan and Kamal Haasan together again after more than four decades. The two veteran actors last appeared together in the 1985 film Geraftaar, making their collaboration in the Kalki franchise a notable reunion. Bachchan reprises his role as Ashwatthama, while Haasan returns as Supreme Yaskin. Prabhas is also set to reprise his role from the first film, with the sequel expected to expand the mythology and futuristic world established in Kalki 2898 AD.The cast had already begun filming portions of the sequel earlier this year, although production subsequently paused as the team worked around Prabhas’ schedule.

Deepika Padukone will not return in ‘Kalki 2’

Deepika Padukone, who played SUM-80 in Kalki 2898 AD, will not be part of the sequel. The development was confirmed by the makers in September 2025, when they announced that the actor and production team had mutually parted ways. Her character’s unborn child remains central to the mythology established in the first film, but the makers have kept details of how the sequel will take the story forward under wraps.

‘Kalki 2898 AD’ wins two National Awards

The latest update on the sequel comes shortly after ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ received two honours at the 72nd National Film Awards. The film won Best Feature Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment, while Nitin Zihani Choudhary received the award for Best Production Design. Reflecting on the recognition, Ashwin said the National Award felt like a “pat on the back” after the extensive effort that went into creating the film. He added that the recognition, particularly for production design, gave him fresh energy to continue working on the sequel.

What is ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ about?

Released in 2024, Kalki 2898 AD combined science fiction with Indian mythology and was set in a dystopian future. The story followed Bhairava, played by Prabhas, as the larger conflict surrounding SUM-80, her unborn child and the powerful Supreme Yaskin unfolded. The sequel is expected to continue the story and expand the world established in the first film, although specific plot details remain tightly guarded.