Nag Ashwin Defends ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ Karna Portrayal: “Please Read the Mahabharata, Wait for Part 2”

Director Nag Ashwin has responded to criticism surrounding the portrayal of Karna in Kalki 2898 AD, saying that his interpretation is rooted in the Mahabharata and urging audiences to wait until the story is complete before drawing conclusions.

The discussion began after a social media user compared the Karna-inspired character in Lenin, directed by Murali Kishor Abburu, with the one in Kalki 2898 AD. The user praised Lenin’s portrayal while criticizing the climax of Kalki, calling it disrespectful to Hindu beliefs.

Responding to the post, Nag Ashwin rejected the criticism and encouraged people to read the original epic before questioning his creative choices.

Sharing an excerpt from Bibek Debroy’s English translation of the Mahabharata, the filmmaker pointed out that the passage contains Lord Krishna’s praise for Karna while speaking to Arjuna during the Drona Vadha Parva.

“These are Sree Krishna’s own words to Arjuna in the Drona Vadha Parva. Please read the Mahabharata. I suggest the Bibek Debroy version. Or Google how many times Krishna praised Karna to Arjuna. I have the greatest respect for our history. I know what I’m doing. Wait for Part 2,” Nag Ashwin wrote.

His response has sparked fresh discussions on social media, with fans debating the interpretation of Karna’s character and expressing curiosity about how the narrative will unfold in the sequel.

Meanwhile, Kalki 2, starring Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, and Deepika Padukone, is currently under production. The sequel is expected to continue the story from the dramatic climax of the first film, with the makers likely to reveal more updates in the coming months.