With mere hours left before the highly anticipated debut screening of “Kalki 2898 AD,” the social media channels of the film’s producers have started to share impressive pre-sales figures for the premiere shows. The film, featuring an ensemble cast with stars like Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan, and Kamal Haasan, is directed by the acclaimed Nag Ashwin.
One of the biggest cinema chains in the UK, Cineworld Cinemas, has reported that more than 20,000 tickets have already been sold for the film’s premiere and subsequent first two days of screening. This figure underscores the immense anticipation and buzz surrounding this cinematic spectacle.
“The game is on! Over 20K+ tickets sold for #Kalki2898AD Premieres + Day 1 and Day 2 only at @cineworld. UK premieres tomorrow. Bring the kids – they’re sure to have a great time!” read a jubilant post from Cineworld’s official social media handle.
In North America, the film has similarly shattered pre-sales records, with more than three million dollars in premiere ticket sales, translating to over 100,000 tickets sold for the premiere shows alone.
A social media post from PrathyangiraUS, a significant distributor, proclaimed proudly: “𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐡𝐚𝐬’ 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝……..𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞’𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐈𝐍 𝐈𝐓! 100K+ Tickets sold for #Kalki2898AD Premieres.”
Closer to home, while the exact figures for the Indian market remain undisclosed by the producers, various news outlets have reported on the premium prices for tickets in metropolitan cities like Mumbai. For instance, Mint reported that tickets at the premium Maison INOX: Jio World Plaza in BKC are selling for Rs 2,300 each. Tickets at venues like The INOX: Insignia at Atria Mall in Worli and PVR ICON: Phoenix Palladium at Lower Parel are priced at Rs 1,760 and Rs 1,560, respectively, before taxes.
In Gurugram, PVR Director’s Cut theatre is showing the 3D version of the film, with tickets priced at Rs 1850 excluding taxes.
. Meanwhile, in Delhi, fans are paying Rs 1670 and Rs 1700 for the 3D experience at Epicuria and PVR Select CityWalk, respectively.
In a significant move, the Andhra Pradesh state government, which had previously implemented a cap on ticket pricing, has allowed an increase in ticket prices for “Kalki 2898 AD.” According to the official order, theatres in the state are now permitted to screen five shows per day for up to 14 days post-release, instead of the usual four. Ticket prices in single-screen theatres have been increased to Rs 75, and multiplex screens can now charge up to Rs 125 per ticket. As a result, the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana regions have already contributed over Rs 27 crore in advance ticket sales.
Indian Express has reported that, to date, over 1.4 million tickets worth Rs 38 crore have been sold, with expectations that the film will earn around Rs 50 crore from advance sales alone. Combining figures from the Indian market (estimated between Rs 120 crore and Rs 140 crore) and overseas sales (about Rs 60 crore), projections for “Kalki 2898 AD” suggest a worldwide first-day box office collection oscillating between Rs 180 crore and Rs 200 crore.
If “Kalki 2898 AD” eclipses the Rs 200 crore threshold, it will join an elite club, becoming only the third film to achieve such an opening day success following SS Rajamouli’s magnum opuses, “RRR” and “Baahubali: The Conclusion.” In fact, Prabhas, already a pan-Indian star, has had multiple films such as “Salaar,” “Adipurush,” and “Saaho” ranking among Indian cinema’s top 10 highest-grossing films on opening day.
Made on an extravagant budget reportedly around ₹600 crore, and with a runtime of 181 minutes, “Kalki 2898 AD” is also set to be released in multiple languages, including Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada. Produced by Vyjayanthi Movies, the film is set against a post-apocalyptic backdrop, capturing the imagination of audiences worldwide. The film’s music is composed by Santhosh Narayanan, with Djordje Stojiljkovic taking on the role of cinematographer.
As the countdown to the premiere continues, the excitement and anticipation surrounding “Kalki 2898 AD” only seem to grow, promising a monumental opening for this larger-than-life cinematic experience.
