Was Prabhas worried about being overshadowed by Amitabh Bachchan in Kalki 2898 AD? He actually wanted to be beaten up, reveals Nag Ashwin

Kalki 2898 AD director Nag Ashwin reminisced about working with superstars like Prabhas and Amitabh Bachchan on the film, and whether Prabhas had any hang-ups about being overshadowed.

By: Entertainment Desk

New Delhi | July 5, 2024 12:16 PM IST

3 min read

Deepika Padukone, Prabhas and Amitabh Bachchan at Kalki event. (Photo: Vyjyanathimovies/Instagram)

Filmmaker Nag Ashwin spoke about the success of Kalki 2898 AD, and his experiences working with iconic actors such as Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone and Kamal Haasan. In an interview, he said that Prabhas actually welcomed being thrown around by Bachchan’s character, unlike several other movie stars who don’t allow their characters to be outclassed on screen. He also said that Prabhas has no qualms about taking a back seat for portions of the film, while other characters are given their moment to shine.

Asked if he had any discussions with Prabhas about not being at the centre of every scene in the film, Nag Ashwin told Pinkvilla in an interview, “We didn’t have those discussions. As star of his stature, Prabhas has very little issues with things like this. He’s fully for the story. In retrospect, it’s a big deal for a mainstream actor to get hit by another actor, because we’re living in a world where all these heroes are untouchable. It’s a big deal. But he was fully on board, he wanted to get hit by Amitabh Bachchan. It was awesome. He was like, ‘Sir, hold me tighter’.”

Also read – Kalki 2898 AD box office collection Day 8: Prabhas’ blockbuster breaks Rs 400 crore domestic barrier in just one week, poised to pass Rs 1000 crore worldwide

At a pre-release event for the film in Mumbai, Prabhas said that Bachchan wouldn’t let him touch his feet as a mark of respect. He said “First time, when I went to meet Amitabh sir, I was going to touch his feet and he said, ‘Don’t do it, if you do it, I’ll also do it’. I was like, ‘Sir please, I can’t even imagine’.”

In the Pinkvilla interview, Nag Ashwin echoed Prabhas’ comments about Bachchan being the biggest presence on set. Reflecting on his experiences working with such massive personalities, the filmmaker said, “With Prabhas, you always know that he’s there to support you in your experiments, as one of the most gigantic figures in our industry right now. Whatever Bachchan sir does is an inspiration. When he’s sitting and asking for food, it’s an inspiration. The way he orders a sandwich is an inspiration.”

A dystopian epic that also features Hindu mythological elements, Kalki 2898 AD has emerged as a box office success, with nearly Rs 800 crore worldwide. It’s also said to be the most expensive Indian film ever made, with a budget of more than Rs 600 crore.

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