‘Kalki 2898 AD’ director Nag Ashwin says he had a story similar to Christopher Nolan’s ‘Inception’: ‘It felt like a week of depression…’ | Telugu Movie News

Renowned filmmaker Nag Ashwin, who made headlines with the blockbuster success of the 2024 pan-Indian film ‘Kalki 2898 AD‘ starring Prabhas, recently shared candid reflections on his filmmaking experiences and the creative process behind crafting ambitious stories. He spoke about developing a story that paralleled Christopher Nolan’s Inception.
During a recent engagement with students at BVRIT College in Hyderabad, Ashwin opened up about the hurdles filmmakers face while pursuing original ideas. Sharing a personal anecdote, he recalled creating a concept years ago that bore similarities to Inception. “It happens to everyone. We wrote something, and a few months later, someone else makes a film with a similar concept. I had written something like Inception in 2008, but Inception was about dreams and my idea was about memories. But once I saw the trailer, it was like one week of depression,” he admitted.

He shared that originality is something beyond one’s control and believes it is better to stop chasing it. According to him, being authentic is more important than pursuing originality.
When asked about films he admired enough to wish he’d been part of their making, Ashwin clarified that he wouldn’t have wanted to direct them, but expressed interest in the editing aspect of filmmaking. “Editing Khaleja would’ve been exciting. It’s a film I love. Maybe Dear Comrade too,” he said.
Trivikram Srinivas’s Khaleja, featuring Mahesh Babu and Anushka Shetty in key roles, and Dear Comrade, starring Vijay Deverakonda, both found a devoted audience despite a lukewarm theatrical run.
Ashwin is preparing to begin work on the much-anticipated sequel to ‘Kalki 2898 AD,’ which is slated to start filming this December.