Ever since the huge success of Kalki 2898 AD, director Nag Ashwin is said to be at a crossroads in his life, weighing various options for his next film. While the follow-up to Kalki 2898 AD is being readied, doubt hangs over the release date with Prabhas’ busy slate of The Raja Saab, Spirit, and Fauji. That delay has brought rumors that Ashwin is now contemplating a brand new cinematic endeavour.
Sources within the industry inform us that the award-winning director is interested in directing a fresh pan-India venture, one that differs from his earlier output. The word on the street is that the movie will be a woman-driven extravaganza, a notable departure from his hitherto male-led tales. Bollywood icon Alia Bhatt is said to be Ashwin’s prime choice for the lead actress role.
Yet, wrapping up the project is unlikely at present given Bhatt’s ongoing commitments. She is already shooting on multiple big-ticket films such as Alpha, a sci-fi thriller; Love and War, a Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed romantic period drama; and Chamunda, a mythological action drama. Such scheduling demands may make it challenging for her to accept Ashwin’s project at present.
With so much going on, fans are keenly waiting for an official update. If Ashwin goes on with this one with a woman lead, awaits for Kalki 2 to lift off, or shakes the world of cinema with a completely new one, this much is clear—one’s next move is highly expected in all of Indian cinema.
