'Kalki 2898 AD' collection report: Prabhas starrer on its way to be pan-India hit

The stakes are high, the expectations higher and, if early trends are anything to go by, "achhe din" could be back for the Indian movie industry with 3D spectacle Kalki 2898 AD set to cross earnings of Rs 200 crore globally on its opening day Thursday, according to trade experts.

The sci fi-meets-mythology extravaganza, with Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan and Kamal Haasan headlining the all-star cast representing the biggest from both the south and the Hindi film industry, is also racing towards a $4 million premiere day in the US, Canada and other territories, reported trade website Sacnilk.

This is more than S.S. Rajamouli's RRR, which had scored $3.3 million gross on its North America premiere in 2022. Kalki 2898 AD is now the film with "the biggest premiere for an Indian movie in North America", Sacnilk reported.

Produced by Vyjayanthi Movies, Kalki 2898 AD has released in six languages: Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, Hindi and English. Previously titled "Project K", it is arguably the most expensive feature film in Indian cinema history at a reported Rs 600 crore.

The film will breach the Rs 100 crore mark on the first day of its release, said trade analyst Girish Wankhede.

The mega budget extravaganza is set for global box office domination with its 4s— stars, spectacle, stunts, and sci-fi—said industry insiders.