Directed by Nag Ashwin, the sci-fi epic Kalki 2898 AD maintained a strong presence at the box office on its second day. Early estimates suggest that the Hindi version of the film collected approximately Rs 18-19 crore on Friday, bringing its two-day nett total close to Rs 40 crore.
Despite being a Thursday release, the film exhibited resilience, with only a 10% drop in collections from national multiplex chains such as PVR, Inox, and Cinepolis. Mass belt markets, however, recorded a slight dip of around 12%. The film is expected to garner another Rs 20 crore on Saturday and aim for around Rs 30 crore on Sunday.
While the business on Saturday may be marginally affected by the India-South Africa World Cup finals, higher gains are anticipated on Sunday. The four-day weekend revenue for Kalki 2898 AD is projected to surpass Rs 85 crore, with the target being closer to Rs 90 crore.
The film's performance on Monday will be crucial in determining its Hindi verdict, with a double-digit collection indicating a HIT status. In the international arena, Kalki 2898 AD amassed a substantial Rs 163 crore on its opening day, making it the third-highest single-day collection for an Indian film, behind Bahubali 2 (Rs 200 crore) and RRR (Rs 189 crore). It continues to perform well in India and overseas on Friday.
Kalki 2898 AD stars Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan, and Kamal Haasan in prominent roles. It is set against the backdrop of the Mahabharata and explores a futuristic world in which humanity faces its greatest challenges. The film has received mixed reviews, with some praising its visuals and performances and others criticizing its pacing and underdeveloped plot.
