PremiumKalki 2898 AD ending explained: How Nag Ashwin’s visual wonder ends on cliffhanger (SPOILERS included)
Kalki 2898 AD featuring Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, and Amitabh Bachchan, has finally released. The futuristic movie by Nag Ashwin, blends Mahabharat elements and leaves the audience on a cliff-hanger.
Last Updated: 09.05 AM, Jun 28, 2024
Kalki 2898 AD has finally arrived in theatres! The film, which has been in the making for three years, finally saw the daylight on June 27. Directed by Nag Ashwin, the film is not any short of a stellar star cast, which includes Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan and others.
The sci-fi, futuristic dystopian tale, which merges with episodes from Hindu epic Mahabharat, has a lot going on and certainly ends on a cliff-hanger, piquing the curiosity of the audience on what to expect from the sequel. There are so many cameo appearances as well, surely giving you some delightful moments. So here we are, breaking down the ending of Kalki 2898 AD to every detail. Please continue to read with spoiler warnings.
Kalki 2898 AD ending explained
To sum up what has happened in the film, Nag Ashwin has skilfully transported us to 2898 AD, which is far into the future, or precisely 6,000 years after the Kurekshetra War has taken place. The future world is doomed, with only the gap between the rich and poor far more widened. Kashi is the only standing city in the world, where the Complex exists. An inverted pyramid-like structure, Complex, is where the rich live and the basics for life and happiness lay.
Governed by Supreme Yaskin (Kamal Haasan) who is heading Project K to attain the supreme power, he is after an unborn child looking for a woman who can survive past 120 days of pregnancy. With SUM-80, one of the serving samples of the Complex and the exactly pregnant for 150 days escaping the Complex, Yaskin places a bounty on her head. And that’s when Bhairava (Prabhas) who wants to capture her for the reward, gets in duel with Ashwatthama (Amitabh Bachchan) who is trying to save the child from the former.
How does Kalki 2898 AD end?
During the end of Kalki 2898 AD, SUM-80 is captured by Yaskin's forces despite Ashwatthama using all his mighty powers to protect the mother and her unborn child. For those unversed, Ashwatthama is the longest living character from the Mahabharat who was cursed to roam around earth until the end of Kaliyug, for having killed Uttara's unborn child during the war. Now, life comes to full circle, as Ashwatthama is abled to protect SUM-80 and her unborn which is touted to be the tenth avatar of Lord Vishnu.
Coming back to Kalki 2898 AD, while Ashwatthama is nearly defeated by Yaskin's commander and SUM-80 is abducted, Bhairava gets hold of Ashwatthama's stick accidently, which leads him to recognise his identity from past life. We are revealed that Bhairava was once Karna who fought Kurekshetra War against Arjuna. Cut to the present, Bhairava who assumes his Karna avatar, successfully saves SUM-80 from Yaskin's commander.
What happens finally in Kalki 2898 AD?
After Bhairava reincarnates as Karna and eliminates Yaskin's commander, much to the surprise of Ashwatthama, Bhairava says the same dialogue as he once said as Karna on the battlefield. Awestruck by what he saw, Ashwatthama misses to save SUM-80, as Bhairava soon loses his Karna quality and abducts her to take to Complex and get his bounty.
This brings the first part of Kalki 2898 AD to an end, with audience left with the question on what would happen to SUM-80 and if Bhairava will indeed realise his past karma and turn back his actions. We also see Yaskin getting hold of a drop from SUM-80’s womb which is supposed to make him more powerful. Will Ashwatthama fight back to get SUM-80, has Bhairava realised who he is? Will Yaskin rule over the world? When will Kalki avatar come? Nag Ashwin has plenty to answer and until then, let’s continue to enjoy the marvels Kalki 2898 AD continues to give us.