New Delhi: Bollywood star Deepika Padukone has officially been dropped from the sequel to Kalki 2898 AD, with production house Vyjayanthi Movies confirming the news in a recent statement.
The film directed by Nag Ashwin and backed by C Aswini Dutt of Vyjayanthi Movies revolved around a group of people set out to save a woman pregnant with Lord Vishnu's 10th and final avatar, Kalki, from an evil supreme god-king, Yaskin.
Deepika played an essential role in the film who was pregnant with the Kalki avatar and fans were waiting for what's in store next.
While they cited an inability to “find a partnership” that matched the scale and commitment the project demands, several reports suggest deeper reasons behind her exit.
Vyajanthi Movies took to their social media platform X and shared, "This is to officially announce that Deepika Padukone will not be a part of the upcoming sequel of Kalki 2898 AD. After careful consideration, We have decided to part ways. Despite the long journey of making the first film, we were unable to find a partnership.”
They also added , “And a film like Kalki 2898 AD deserves that commitment and much more. We wish her the best with her future work.”
The producers, facing the complexities of a VFX-heavy shoot, are said to have offered her a luxury vanity setup to compensate, which was declined.
Further complicating matters were hospitality requests for her 25-member entourage, including five-star accommodation and full food expenses, which producers found difficult to justify.
Around the same time, in June 2024, Deepika, then on maternity break, found herself at the center of a controversy following her reported fallout with the makers of Spirit.
The film, directed by Arjun Reddy and Animal fame Sandeep Reddy Vanga and starring Prabhas, saw her exit after alleged disagreements over work terms.
Reports claimed she requested an eight-hour workday and a 10 percent share of the film's profits. Deepika, who is married to actor Ranveer Singh, welcomed a baby girl on September 8, 2024.
Some reports also say that Deepika’s character was initially central to the sequel but was later reduced to a cameo and this is said to be the reason for her exit from the project.
Meanwhile, Deepika is reportedly a part of Shah Rukh Khan's 'King' in an extended cameo which is quite pivotal to the film. She's a part of Allu Arjun's next 'AA22xA6' directed by 'Jawan' director Atlee. (Inputs from UNI)
