Amitabh Bachchan, who will play Ashwatthama in Kalki 2898 AD, recalled his first interaction with director Nag Ashwin. He said when Ashwin came and explained the idea to him, the former thought, "What the hell is Nag drinking?" He added, "It was absolutely something outrageous. It is just unbelievable to have somebody conceive a project that is so futuristic."