Hyderabad: Actor Prabhas turned 47 on October 23, and director Nag Ashwin marked the day by releasing a first-look video of his return in the sequel to Kalki 2898 AD.
The 32-second clip shows a blue-screen set being prepared for Bhairava's comeback, with the words 'Bhairava is back' on screen. Prabhas, in the armour that has become his character's signature, boards the vehicle Bujji. He appears largely in silhouette atop an elevated structure, but the video makes clear that the bounty hunter from the 2024 sci-fi film is returning.
In the first part, set in a dystopian future where resources are pooled by Supreme Yaskin, Bhairava was revealed at the end to be Karna reincarnated. The sequel picks up from there.
According to the makers, Amitabh Bachchan and Kamal Haasan, who play Ashwatthama and Supreme Yaskin, have returned to the sets. Deepika Padukone, who played the test subject SUM-80, or Sumathi, in the first film, has since exited the project. No official announcement has been made about her replacement.
Kalki 2898 AD was among the biggest and most-discussed Indian releases of 2024, with a large cast led by Amitabh Bachchan and Kamal Haasan, and its sequel has been awaited by fans across film industries. Birthday wishes for Prabhas poured in from filmmakers and audiences through the day.
The first-look video confirms that production on the sequel is under way. The makers have said no new characters are being added to the sequel, and a shooting schedule has not yet been announced.