Preetisheel Singh, a National Award-winning make-up and prosthetics artist, is the creative force behind the distinctive appearance in Nag Ashwin’s ‘Kalki 2898 AD’. In an interview with Mashable, Preetisheel discussed her process and the creative direction she took for Amitabh Bachchan’s character, Ashwatthama.
The film’s team aimed to blend Indian mythology with futuristic design when conceptualizing Ashwatthama’s appearance. Preetisheel expressed her excitement about working on such an iconic character, emphasizing Ashwatthama’s intriguing background of witnessing millennia of planetary decay.
Detailing the initial brief for Ashwatthama’s look, Preetisheel explained that the character is portrayed as a very old man detached from society and devoid of resources, set in a dark and desolate environment. Her team drew inspiration from these elements to depict his aging, including the creation of dreadlocks, and translated these ideas into digital sketches.
Regarding Nag Ashwin’s direction, Preetisheel mentioned they received a specific brief from him as well. After designing the character and conducting a successful look test, adjustments were minimal, aligning closely with their original vision.
The transformation of Amitabh Bachchan into Ashwatthama across different age groups has sparked widespread discussion. Preetisheel described their approach to achieving different levels of aging, noting the meticulous selection of materials like stones to ensure natural integration with prosthetic appliances, as seen on the forehead in promotional materials.
