Overview
- Nag Ashwin on Monday posted a passage from Bibek Debroy’s translation of the Mahabharata and told critics to “wait for Part 2,” saying he respects the epic and stands by his interpretation of Karna.
- The latest wave of criticism was fuelled by a viral X post that compared Pramod Panju’s Karna in Lenin with Prabhas’s portrayal in Kalki 2898 AD and accused Ashwin’s film of glorifying the character.
- Ashwin said most of the writing and prep for Kalki 2898 AD Part 2 is complete and that regular shooting might begin in August or September, making the project actively move from planning toward production.
- Producers expect Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan and Kamal Haasan to reprise their roles while Vyjayanthi Movies has confirmed Deepika Padukone will not return; the important Sumathi role remains in the script but its casting is unannounced and reports linking Sai Pallavi and Alia Bhatt are unconfirmed.
- Kalki’s status as a major box‑office hit amplified the debate over adapting mythological figures, and Ashwin’s rare public reply shifts attention from isolated criticism to how the sequel will expand and justify the film’s interpretation.