'Kalki 2898 AD' director Nag Ashwin calls Deepika Padukone's fire scene his 'most favourite scene'

Deepika Padukone, who is currently basking in massive appreciation for her role in the historic hit ‘Kalki 2898 AD’, has also earned the admiration and respect of director Nag Ashwin. While Deepika is part of numerous highlight scenes in this sci-fi entertainer, one particular scene has stood out and become iconic—the fire scene. This moment, which has rapidly gone viral, features Deepika walking through fire, showcasing her character’s resilience and strength in a manner that has left audiences in awe. Many have taken to social media to hail her as the new “Khaleesi” and “the best thing about the film.” In fact director Nag Ashwin himself refers to the scene as ‘his favourite’ and in a recent interview he gave us the reasons for it.

Talking about Deepika’s fire scene, director Nag Ashwin said, “That is one of my favourite scenes; I think maybe the most favourite scene. But the way we shot was so hurried. We were shooting three setups that day and Deepika [Padukone] had to leave by a certain flight. It usually happens that some of the most important or magical things in the film happen by chance or in a hurry. And this is what that was. And, but just watching it in that hurry, in that rush and everything, when you just reach the monitor and you see Deepika walking through that particular tunnel in that fire, I just knew this was going to be special.”

All praise for the global icon, he added, “Deepika is a super-smart actor. You just need to give her a little and she knows what the brief is. I genuinely thought that the final pose that she holds at the end of that tunnel, when the interval is about to happen, felt like such a strong visual for me. I just felt there’s a chance that something like that could be a poster that would live beyond me or the film. And I just told her that and she was telling me that’s the one thing she still remembers.”

‘Kalki 2898 AD’ marks yet another milestone in Deepika’s illustrious career, making this her fourth consecutive success following the blockbusters ‘Pathan’, ‘Jawan’, and ‘Fighter’, which collectively amassed ₹2,542 crores at the box office. Deepika Padukone’s performance in ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ is being celebrated not only for its intensity but also for the profound impact it has left on audiences across the globe.