Kalki 2898 AD was one of the biggest Indian films of 2024. It crossed Rs 1,000 crore worldwide, according to trade reports, and it ended with a clear setup for a sequel. Fans have waited since then for part two. On 23 October 2026, Prabhas's birthday, they got a real update. The makers shared a behind the scenes video with the line Bhairava is back, and Prabhas joined the shoot in his Bhairava look. That video matters, because it ends months of doubt about whether the sequel was moving at all. It is moving, but slowly. Director Nag Ashwin said at a pre release event in September 2026 that only about 10 days of shooting had been done so far. The first actors on set were not Prabhas, but Amitabh Bachchan and Kamal Haasan. Bachchan returns as Ashwatthama, the immortal warrior. Kamal Haasan returns as Supreme Yaskin, the antagonist. Their early scenes were shot in Hyderabad, while the team waited for Prabhas to free up dates.

Why the wait is so long

Prabhas has a packed slate, and that is the main reason for the delay. He is working on Fauzi, Spirit and Kalki Part 2 at the same time, with Salaar 2 waiting behind them. Nag Ashwin said the team will shoot again when the dates align, and that they will shoot in a long stretch once Prabhas is free. That is easy to say and hard to plan, when three large films all need the same star. The plan, as reported, is to finish principal photography by mid 2027. Even if that holds, a 2026 or early 2027 release is no longer realistic. Trade reports point to late 2027 at the earliest, with 2028 more likely once shooting, visual effects and post production are counted. The makers have not announced an official release date. Treat any year you see online as a reported window, not a locked date.

One big casting change

Deepika Padukone played Sumathi in the first film. She will not return for the sequel. Vyjayanthi Movies confirmed the exit in a statement on X, and reports note the parting was sharp in tone. The makers have not named a replacement, and they have not said how Sumathi's story will be handled. That is a gap fans will watch closely, because Sumathi was central to the first film's plot. The rest of the core stays. Prabhas as Bhairava, Bachchan as Ashwatthama, and Kamal Haasan as Yaskin give the sequel a strong spine. The first film mixed futuristic science fiction with Hindu myth, set in a world after a great collapse. The sequel is expected to push that mix further, with Bhairava's past and Yaskin's plan taking centre stage. Plot details beyond that are still under wraps.

What the first film set up

If you missed the first film, here is the short version. Bhairava is a bounty hunter in Kasi, a city ruled by the Complex and its leader Yaskin. Ashwatthama waits through the ages for a child who will change the world. Sumathi carries that child. The film ends with a fight that leaves the story open, not closed. Part two has to pay off that fight, explain more of Bhairava's past, and show what Yaskin does next. That is a lot to carry, and it needs time in effects work. Kalki's world was built with heavy visual effects, large sets and detailed costumes. A sequel cannot rush that work without looking cheap next to part one. That is why a 2028 window makes sense, even if fans want it sooner. A rushed sequel would hurt the franchise more than a late one.

What to watch next

Watch for a longer shoot update from Nag Ashwin, with a clear note on how much of the film is done. Watch for news on Sumathi's replacement, or a story change that writes around the role. Watch for a first teaser, which will show if the look has changed since part one. And watch for an official date card from Vyjayanthi Movies. Until that card lands, treat 2028 as a reported target, not a promise. For now, the birthday video is the key signal. Bhairava is back on set, the veterans are back, and the sequel is alive. It will just take longer than fans hoped, and that wait is now part of the story.

Sources and reporting

  1. Hollywood Reporter India — 2 September 2026 · Verifies the 10 day shoot figure, Nag Ashwin's comments, and the late 2027 or 2028 window in trade estimates
  2. Sacnilk — 23 October 2026 · Verifies Prabhas joining the shoot on his birthday and the mid 2027 filming target
  3. Kerala TV — 23 October 2026 · Verifies the Bhairava Returns video and that no official release date has been announced