Prabhas in Kalki 2898 AD. (courtesy: actorprabhas)
There is good news for all Prabhas and Deepika Padukone fans. The teaser of their first collaboration, Project K, was released on Friday morning at the San Diego Comic Con (SDCC). The film, which was referred to as Project K since it was first announced, now has a new name – Kalki 2898-AD. The dystopian sci-fi thriller also features veteran actors Amitabh Bachchan and Kamal Haasan in important roles. Needless to say, cinema lovers and fans have their lenses trained on any and all updates about the Nag Ashwin magnum opus. While Kalki 2898-AD has made history by being the first Indian film at the San Diego Comic Con, the ride so far has not been without bumps.
Signs of trouble were first evident when the release of Deepika Padukone's poster was delayed by several hours. The actress' first look from the film was scheduled to be released on July 17 at 5 pm and announcements were made in this regard. However, for reasons undisclosed, the poster release was delayed and was finally shared only at 10 pm. “We apologise for the slight delay in unveiling Deepika Padukone's first look from #ProjectK. Stay tuned for the update on the revised time!” the team tweeted, only to drop the poster as a surprise several hours later.
Even post the release of the teaser, the feedback was not unanimous. While some felt that Deepika Padukone's first look fit seamlessly into the world of the dystopian thriller, others felt that it was purely underwhelming.
Check out the tweets around Deepika Padukone's first look here:
Next came Prabhas' first look from Kalki 2898 - AD. Like Deepika Padukone's poster, here too a release time was decided only for the team to later announce a delay. After sharing a tweet with the caption, “The rise of our Hero at 01:23:45:67 PM (IST). Stay sharp for the first look of the Rebel star #Prabhas from #ProjectK,” the team uploaded a second tweet citing a delay. They shared, “'K'oncham late avtundi darlings [We are running a little late, darlings]... all good things take time.”
Like Deepika Padukone's first look, even Prabhas' poster was met with mixed feelings. Amid backlash and comparisons with Prabhas' recent box office debacle Adipurush, the makers of the film even replaced the poster with tweaks.
In the initial poster, Prabhas is seen looking directly into the camera, with strands of hair falling gently on his face. Alongside his image, the poster featured the intriguing phrase, 'What is Project K.' In the subsequent version of the poster, which was released later, there were notable changes. The camera angle was different, and special effects were applied to enhance the overall appearance. Additionally, the backdrop of the poster no longer showcased ruined structures as before.
The reaction from the audience after the tweaks was still lukewarm, at best. For instance, one fan said, “Okay good move… deleted the old one and came with a good one today… Please check twice before releasing it to the public. #ProjectK,” summing up the general mood.
Meanwhile, the teaser offers a glimpse into a dystopian world, engulfed by darkness, with Prabhas, Deepika Padukone and Amitabh Bachchan appearing to be on the right side, fighting for goodness and a better tomorrow.
Watch it here:
The teaser launch at the San Diego Comic Con was attended by Prabhas, Nag Ashwin and Kamal Haasan. While Amitabh Bachchan joined the panel via video conferencing, Deepika Padukone was not part of the promotion as a member of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Radio and Television Artists (SAG-AFTRA) which is on strike.
Meanwhile, Rana Daggubati, whose company Spirit Media is the international marketing and distribution partner of Kalki 2898 AD, was also part of the Comic Con panel.