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The pre-release event for Nag Ashwin’s highly anticipated film, Kalki 2898 AD, took place in Mumbai on Wednesday. The event was graced by the presence of stars like Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Kamal Haasan, and Rana Daggubati. However, the highlight of the evening was a touching moment involving Amitabh Bachchan and producer Aswini Dutt.
Amitabh Bachchan, in a gesture of deep respect, touched Aswini Dutt’s feet on stage. This act of reverence left the audience in awe. Amitabh spoke highly of Aswini, saying, “He owns Vyjayanthi Films with his two daughters, Swapna and Priyanka. I have never met a simpler and more humble person than Aswini. He is always the first person on set, ensuring everyone’s safety and comfort. Nobody thinks like that.” After expressing his admiration, Amitabh touched Aswini’s feet, and Aswini reciprocated the gesture.
Ram Gopal Varma shared a screenshot of this moment on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “This moment marks the pinnacle of achievement for ASHWINI DUTT, with AMITABH BACHCHAN showing such respect. From N T Rama Rao to the latest young heroes, I doubt anyone has done this, and I have never seen BIG B do this for any other PRODUCER in his entire career. KUDOS DUTT GAARU.”
Aswini Dutt is a prominent figure in Tollywood, owning one of the biggest production houses, Vyjayanthi Movies, established in 1974. He has three daughters, Swapna, Priyanka, and Sravanthi, with the first two working alongside him under Swapna Cinema. Priyanka is married to Nag Ashwin, the director of Kalki 2898 AD.
Throughout his career, Aswini Dutt has supported numerous blockbusters featuring stars like NTR, ANR, Krishna, Sobhan Babu, Krishnam Raju, Chiranjeevi, Venkatesh, Balakrishna, Nagarjuna, Mahesh Babu, Allu Arjun, Jr. NTR, and Ram Charan. After facing backlash for the 2011 film ‘Sakthi,’ Aswini took a break but made a powerful comeback with the 2017 hit ‘Mahanati.’
One of Vyjayanthi Movies’ most celebrated films is the 1990 classic, Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari, starring Chiranjeevi and Sridevi. This film holds a special place in Aswini Dutt’s heart.
At the event, Amitabh Bachchan expressed his excitement about being part of a futuristic film like Kalki 2898 AD. Directed by Nag Ashwin, the sci-fi movie promises to transport audiences to a world never seen before in Indian cinema. Amitabh shared, “When Nag explained the idea to me, I was thinking… It was absolutely something outrageous. It’s just unbelievable to have somebody conceive a project which is so futuristic.”
The makers unveiled a new trailer of the film at the event, which was also attended by lead actors Prabhas, Kamal Haasan, and Deepika Padukone. The event was hosted by actor-producer Rana Daggubati.
Speaking about his experience working on Kalki 2898 AD, Amitabh said it has been an unforgettable journey. “During the making of the film, we realized that no matter what the director thought of, he actually got all the material, all the effects, every kind of visual or vision that he had. That really has been an amazing experience for me. To be just a part of it has been an experience I’ll never forget,” he added.
The 81-year-old actor praised Nag Ashwin for conceiving a film that he believes is ahead of its time. “To have worked in a setup where they’ve gone beyond what most of us have been doing all our lives in this film industry. I appreciate the fact we’re moving a little ahead of the times. Making us a part of that and making us work in conditions that we never thought we would be able to work in… So, I want to congratulate Nag and the production team for thinking of something like this film. It’s a great honor for me to be a part of it,” Amitabh said.
Produced by Aswini Dutt, Kalki 2898 AD is set to arrive in theaters on June 27. The film’s pre-release event has already created a buzz, and fans are eagerly awaiting its release.
