1 year of Kalki 2898 AD: Inside the world of the Prabhas starrer – The making of India’s most ambitious sci-fi film
One year ago, Kalki 2898 AD took Indian cinema to a whole new dimension — both literally and metaphorically. Directed by Nag Ashwin and produced by Vyjayanthi Movies, the magnum opus broke not just box office records but also every creative convention we’ve seen in Indian filmmaking. As the film completes a year since its release, we look back at how this monumental sci-fi epic was brought to life — with a mix of vision, innovation, and absolute madness.
Building a Future Never Seen Before
When Nag Ashwin set out to create Kalki 2898 AD, he wasn’t just making a film — he was creating an entire universe. From the decaying post-apocalyptic Kashi to the high-tech dystopian Complex and the mysterious world of Shambhala, each set was imagined in detail from scratch. Every inch of the set was constructed to reflect a world 800 years into the future, yet rooted in mythology.
Helming the production design was Nitin Zihani Choudhary, who ensured that every location felt immersive and believable. Massive real-scale sets were built at Ramoji Film City, giving actors tangible environments to perform in. “We didn’t want the world to feel synthetic. It had to feel lived-in,” Ashwin had mentioned in a BTS clip. These sets were later enhanced with layers of VFX, blending physical construction with digital augmentation to create seamless, hyper-realistic environments.
VFX Meets Vision
Studios like DNEG and Embassy VFX, along with other collaborators like StealthWorks, Folks, Lola, and Pixstone, worked tirelessly to bring Nag Ashwin’s vision to life. With over 700 VFX shots, the film became a benchmark for visual storytelling in India. From futuristic flying vehicles and robotic creatures to advanced weaponry and cityscapes suspended in technology, every frame was crafted with global standards in mind. The use of real-time rendering, motion capture, and digital doubles helped push the envelope even further.
But it wasn’t just about scale. What stood out was the texture — the detailing in environments, the lighting, and the blend of gritty realism with epic grandeur. Nothing looked over-stylised; everything felt believable.
Prosthetics, Makeup & Metamorphosis
The characters of Kalki 2898 AD weren’t just performing roles — they were transforming into them. The prosthetic work in the film deserves a spotlight of its own. Amitabh Bachchan’s character, Ashwatthama, demanded extensive prosthetic makeup, which took hours to apply each day. Artists like Preetisheel G. Singh, Sonya Batra, Gabriel Georgiou, and Chidanand Kulal worked on everything from weathered skin textures to futuristic eye modifications, creating looks that were both mythic and otherworldly.
Prabhas, too, was given a unique look for Bhairava — with costume designs and accessories that blended Mad Max-like ruggedness with Indian folklore. The prosthetic and styling design helped accentuate the character’s evolution, giving him a visual edge that made every close-up compelling.
Costumes That Told Their Own Story
The costume design of Kalki 2898 AD played a key role in grounding its futuristic narrative. Every character’s outfit was meticulously designed to reflect their world — the rebels wore tattered gear pieced together from salvaged materials, while citizens of the Complex were dressed in clean, structured, synthetic fabrics. It wasn’t just style — it was storytelling through wardrobe.
The costumes were designed by a talented team including Thota Vijay Bhaskar, Shaleena Nathani, Sahithi Patha, and Aparna Shah, with Archana Akhil Kumar Rao leading the vision. Rao coined the style “Spicepunk” — an Indian twist on cyberpunk — and used inventive fabrics like rubber-coated neoprene, printed mull cotton, and foam-latex to capture the cultural and textural depth of 2898. Every design choice, from Bhairava’s rugged armour to Supreme Yaskin’s sterile robes, was deliberate and immersive.
Concept to Canvas: The Birth of a Sci-Fi Epic
Perhaps the most fascinating part of Kalki 2898 AD was its conceptualisation. Inspired by Indian mythology and set far into the future, the story was always envisioned as a multi-part saga. The creative team, led by Ashwin, spent years in world-building before even rolling the camera.
Weapon prototypes, creature concepts, and even city layouts were designed before scripting was complete. In fact, Ashwin revealed that some of the action choreography and vehicle concepts — including those supported by Mahindra & Mahindra — were ready even before casting was locked. That’s how layered the preparation was.
The post 1 year of Kalki 2898 AD: Inside the world of the Prabhas starrer – The making of India’s most ambitious sci-fi film appeared first on Bollywood Hungama.
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