Kalki 2898 AD, directed by Nag Ashwin, was released in theaters on June 27, 2024. The film, featuring Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan, and Kamal Haasan in the lead roles, has been widely praised for its outstanding production and performances. However, the romantic subplot involving the characters Bhairava and Roxie, portrayed by Prabhas and Disha Patani, has faced significant criticism, being seen as a forced addition with no meaningful contribution to the story. People who have yet to watch Kalki, please mind that there are spoilers ahead and proceed further.
The most glaring flaw in Kalki 2898 AD, an otherwise captivating film, is the contrived romantic side story involving the main character Bhairava and Roxie, portrayed by Bollywood star Disha Patani. The inadequate writing and handling of the couple’s romance, which is irrelevant to the main storyline, hindered the otherwise compelling plot. Roxie’s sole role in the movie is introducing Bhairava to the Complex for the first time. The pair unexpectedly breaks into a dazzling musical number, but the beloved actress’s character vanishes from the movie afterward, much like Prabhas’ Bhairava. The reviewers and audience unanimously felt that if the forced romantic subplot between Bhairava and Roxie had been removed, the film’s first half would have been nearly as powerful as the second half. This half-hearted romance detracts from the main plot and dilutes the impact of the compelling opening sequence and world-building for a while before Nag Ashwin steps into the main story.
Moviegoers said it is disheartening to observe how mainstream Indian filmmakers are still compelled to incorporate fan service in films that are otherwise focused on content. Most mainstream films require some fan-centric elements, such as a purposeless heroine and a glamorous song sequence. Disha Patani’s role in Kalki 2898 AD could be seen as a mere cameo with no impact. The actress’s forced dialogue delivery and expressions, along with the lack of chemistry between the lead pair, exacerbate the situation. Despite these shortcomings, Kalki 2898 AD has managed to become a massive box office hit. Nevertheless, it is hoped that Indian filmmakers will soon feel confident enough to eliminate such unnecessary clichés from their ambitious projects.
