A financial dispute has erupted between the producers of Kalki 2898 AD, one of the year’s most anticipated sci-fi films, and its US and European distributors. The producers allege that the distributors shortchanged them and withheld significant earnings from the film’s international distribution. The ongoing tussle, which has raised concerns over financial transparency, came to light when an email from Vyjayanthi Movies, the production house behind the film, leaked online.
Kalki 2898 AD, directed by Nag Ashwin and starring Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, Amitabh Bachchan, and Kamal Haasan, has earned over ₹1000 crore worldwide since its release. However, months after the film’s successful launch, the producers claim that they have not received their fair share from the film’s international earnings in the US and Europe.
The leaked email, sent from Vyjayanthi Movies to the US-Europe distributors, suggests that the film earned approximately $1.3 million gross in these regions. Despite this, the production house has reportedly only received an advance of ₹5 crore from the distributors. The producers allege that the distributors are now claiming the film has performed poorly, reporting only ₹3 crore in earnings from these territories, and are withholding the remaining share due to claimed losses in Europe.
A source close to the production house confirmed the email’s authenticity and described the situation as a case of financial malpractice. The source explained that the distributors, who are handling both the US and European markets, have misrepresented the film’s performance. “The film made $1.3 million according to trackers, but they have paid only ₹5 crore in advance and are now claiming that the earnings were much lower than reported,” the source said. The producers are now considering legal action, as the distributors have failed to respond to the email and have instead leaked it to the media.
The email also suggests that the distributors, who received the film for a refundable advance of ₹5 crore, are now claiming losses and withholding the remaining ₹2 crore from the US and Canada. Vyjayanthi Movies has reportedly given the distributors a 48-hour ultimatum to settle the outstanding dues before pursuing legal action.
In addition to the dispute over earnings, the producers have also raised concerns about alleged malpractice related to the film’s censorship and publicity billing in the US and Europe.
As of now, neither the producers nor the distributors have issued an official statement regarding the ongoing conflict.
About Kalki 2898 AD
Kalki 2898 AD is a futuristic sci-fi thriller that centers around Bhairava, a bounty hunter, and Ashwatthama, a warrior with a mission to protect a pregnant test subject named SU-M80. When she escapes from a lab run by Supreme Yaskin, Bhairava is assigned to capture her for a bounty, while Ashwatthama believes her unborn child holds the key to the future of the world—he is the prophesied Kalki, a messianic figure destined to restore balance.
