With less than 48 hours remaining until the highly anticipated release of “Kalki 2898 AD,” excitement is at a fever pitch. Pre-release business for the film has been phenomenal, with advance bookings reflecting an unreal level of hype.
As promotions wind down, a recent interview with the production team sheds light on some of the challenges they faced. Producer Swapna Dutt revealed the immense difficulty in casting the role of Yaskin, a pivotal character in the film.
“One of the most difficult casting ever was Kamal sir,” Dutt stated. She elaborated on the search for an actor who could hold his own against the film’s two established superstars, Prabhas and Amitabh Bachchan. “We were shooting, but then like, ‘Yaskin, when is Yaskin coming? The whole film is Yaskin but where is Yaskin?’ And how would you cast this person who is equal and true or like mightier than these two superheroes? Who is it? And then we could only think of Kamal sir. It took us one year to figure this out.”
Legendary actor Kamal Haasan himself acknowledged the initial self-doubt he experienced when approached for the role. “It’s not a question of torture,” he said. “Self-doubt comes you know. He (referring to Prabhas) has done this. What am I going to do? That was the reason. And it’s not that I’ve played bad guys before. Even as a lead bad guy, psychopaths and all that. But this is something else.”
Meanwhile, veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan offered a philosophical reflection, sharing his current reading of the epic Ramayana. He penned a message emphasizing the importance of faith and devotion, drawing parallels from the ancient scripture.
With a captivating cast, a story shrouded in mystery, and immense audience anticipation, “Kalki 2898 AD” appears poised to be a cinematic spectacle not to be missed.
