Kalki 2898 AD turns one: How a visionary film carved out its own Rs 1000 Crore legacy

Kalki 2898 AD completes 1 year

One year ago, Kalki 2898 AD did more than just open in cinemas — it sparked a cinematic movement. Directed by the imaginative Nag Ashwin and produced by Vyjayanthi Movies, this genre-defying epic fused ancient mythology with cutting-edge science fiction in a way Indian audiences had never witnessed before.

But beyond its visual grandeur and powerhouse cast, the film’s greatest achievement was establishing a ₹1000 crore benchmark that felt tailor-made for its audacious vision.

In an era where pan-India releases and global reach are no longer aspirations but expectations, Kalki 2898 AD emerged as a pathbreaker.

More than a mere commercial hit, it was a daring experiment in genre storytelling that proved Indian sci-fi could both captivate audiences and command enormous box office returns. With record-setting earnings and widespread critical praise, Kalki reimagined what large-scale Indian filmmaking could achieve — both narratively and financially.

A Grand Opening

Premiering on 27 June 2024 in six languages — Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, and English — the film earned a jaw-dropping ₹180 crore worldwide on its first day alone, including ₹95 crore from India. Within 48 hours, its global tally reached ₹250 crore, with ₹149.3 crore contributed domestically.

Smashing Records

By the end of its four-day debut weekend, Kalki had already grossed ₹484 crore globally. It entered the ₹800 crore club by Day 11 and stormed past the ₹1000 crore milestone by Day 16 — cementing its place among the top-grossing Indian films of all time.

Dominating Indian Markets

On the home front, the film collected approximately ₹735 crore gross. Andhra Pradesh and Telangana topped the charts with ₹283 crore, followed by Karnataka (₹72 crore), Tamil Nadu (₹43 crore), and Kerala (₹31 crore). Elsewhere in India contributed another ₹306 crore. Notably, the Hindi version amassed over ₹340 crore, underscoring the film’s true pan-Indian impact.

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Global Triumph

Overseas, Kalki raked in an impressive USD 29.15 million (roughly ₹244 crore), including USD 18.57 million from North America, making it the third-highest Indian grosser in the region. Its strong showing in Germany, Japan, Canada, and Russia demonstrated its global appeal.

A Sci-Fi Milestone

With a staggering ₹600 crore budget, Kalki not only recovered costs but more than doubled its investment. It became the highest-grossing Indian science fiction film ever, and only the seventh Indian film to surpass ₹1000 crore worldwide — redefining the future of Indian genre cinema.