(third from left), the
Vice President of India in 2018 Nag Ashwin began his career in the film industry as an assistant director, working on the 2008 film
Nenu Meeku Telusa?. He later worked as
assistant director to
Sekhar Kammula in
Leader (2010) and
Life Is Beautiful (2012) and acted in minor roles in all three films. Ashwin made his directorial debut with
Yevade Subramanyam (2015), a film backed by
Vyjayanthi Movies. The plot centers around Subramanyam (played by
Nani), a corporate professional who embarks on a journey of self-discovery. The film also stars
Malvika Nair,
Vijay Deverakonda, and
Ritu Varma. It was notable for its extensive filming at
Everest Base Camps in
Nepal, making it the first Indian film to be shot at that location. Released on 21 March 2015,
Yevade Subramanyam received mostly positive reviews. Critics praised Nani's performance and the film's message-oriented script but criticized the slow-paced narration. In May 2016, Nag Ashwin announced his next film would be a
biopic of the Indian actress
Savitri, titled
Mahanati. He spent six months researching her life, reading articles and books, and interviewing journalists and actors who knew her. Backed by Vyjayanthi Movies,
principal photography began in May 2017 and concluded by March 2018.
Mahanati was released on 9 May 2018 to critical and commercial acclaim, winning several awards. It was showcased in the
Indian Panorama Mainstream section at the
49th International Film Festival of India and received the "Equality in Cinema Award" at the 2018
Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. At the
66th National Film Awards, it won
Best Feature Film in Telugu, among other accolades. Nag Ashwin received the
Filmfare Award for Best Director – Telugu at the
66th Filmfare Awards South. In February 2020, Ashwin announced a
science fiction action film to mark the 50th anniversary of Vyjayanthi Movies.
Prabhas was announced as the lead actor, with the
working title Project K. However, production was delayed by a year due to the
COVID-19 pandemic. Filming began in July 2021 at
Ramoji Film City, in
Hyderabad, on a 600 crore budget, making it the
most expensive Indian film to date. The cast includes
Deepika Padukone,
Amitabh Bachchan and
Kamal Haasan. The film, later titled
Kalki 2898 AD, was the first Indian film presented at
San Diego Comic-Con's Hall H on 20 July 2023. Released worldwide on 27 June 2024, the film received positive reviews from critics and audiences.
Collider praised the film as a "unique sci-fi epic" with strong performances by Prabhas and Bachchan and an impressive screenplay by Ashwin.
Deadline Hollywood called it "terrific, cathartic fun" and anticipated more editions in the "Kalki Cinematic Universe," applauding Ashwin's work. ==Personal life==