Kalki 2898 AD: Amitabh dominance over Prabhas disappoints

While Amitabh Bachchan's performance in "Kalki 2898 Ad" has been widely appreciated, some industry insiders are expressing concern about his character's dominance over Prabhas, potentially diminishing the film's impact on Prabhas' dedicated fanbase.

"Unfortunately, Amitabh overpowering and defeating Prabhas was unwarranted," a source stated. "Everyone thought this film would be centered around Prabhas and his heroic acts, but Amitabh taking the lead and dominating Prabhas for most of the film hasn't gone down well. It has dampened the excitement of fans and the general audience."

Another producer echoed this sentiment, highlighting the expectation for a Prabhas-driven narrative similar to "Salaar" or "Baahubali." However, in "Kalki 2898 Ad," the narrative shifted, focusing on Amitabh's character, Aswadhama, reclaiming his power and becoming invincible.

"Prabhas' character lacks a strong motive and becomes secondary. He mostly entertains the audience with jokes while Amitabh takes center stage," the producer pointed out.

Despite portraying age-appropriate roles in recent Bollywood films like "Piku" and "Pink," Amitabh's action hero persona in "Kalki 2898 Ad" overshadows Prabhas' machismo. Fans anticipated Prabhas taking on the villains, not being sidelined for the majority of the film before joining forces with Amitabh towards the end.

"This has disappointed fans in various centers and smaller towns, particularly in the Telugu states," the producer added.

Even Prabhas' portrayal of Karna, with its brief moments of heroism, failed to fully enthuse the audience.

"While there are a few goosebump moments where Prabhas takes the bow of Karna and becomes an unbeatable warrior, defeating opponents and saving a pregnant woman, it came too late and was too little for the first part," he concluded.

The source suggests that the film's narrative could have benefitted from a stronger focus on Prabhas' character, allowing his dedicated fanbase to fully engage with his heroic journey.