Official Announcement
Vijayanthi Movies has officially confirmed that Deepika Padukone will no longer be a part of the Kalki 2898 AD sequel.
On Twitter, the makers wrote:
“After careful consideration, we have decided to part ways with Deepika Padukone.
The makers wrote in their note –
“A film like Kalki 2898 AD deserves full commitment and much more.”
This simply meant that Deepika was unable to give her full commitment to the project.
Why was Deepika removed from Kalki?
According to media reports, Deepika Padukone placed some significant conditions on the Kalki 2898 AD sequel, which led the production house to decide not to proceed with her.
-Demand for a 25% fee increase: Deepika demanded a direct 25% increase in her fee compared to the first part.
7-hour daily shooting condition: She clarified that she would only shoot for a maximum of 7 hours per day. This makes scheduling quite challenging in VFX and big-budget films.
Demand for a 25-person team: Deepika’s team also clarified that the producers should cover the entire cost of accommodation (5-star hotels) and food for her 25-member team.
Profit sharing: According to some media reports, Deepika also demanded a share in the film’s profits (though this demand appears to be more related to Spirit than Kalki).
-No Telugu dialogues: In the case of the film Spirit, it was rumored that Deepika had put a condition on not speaking Telugu dialogues, but this has not been confirmed for Kalki.
In light of these conditions, Vyjayanthi Movies issued a public statement stating that they would not be able to form a “partnership” with Deepika.
Well, the most interesting thing is this: Prabhas, who is considered one of India’s top pan-Indian stars, has never once asked for a fee increase. Even experienced actors like Amitabh Bachchan and Kamal Haasan are performing without any hassle or fanfare. On the other hand, Deepika’s increasing demands have upset producers.
Vijayanti Movies clearly stated – No one is bigger than the project.
Kalki 2898 AD Sequel.The project is most important, not any one person. A sequel to Kalki 2898 AD will be made without Deepika Padukone, and the production house is confident it will perform well. Now the crucial question is which actress will be chosen to replace her.People are suggesting that any one among Mrinal Thakur, Kirti Suresh or Tripti Dimri should be cast.
The troll army became active.
The troll army also made funny comments about Deepika on social media.
“Deepika has now become another Kareena Kapoor, dropping out of every project.”
“She should take up a 7-hour MNC job instead of films.”
- From the producers’ perspective, a big-budget VFX film like Kalki 2898 AD required relentless shooting schedules and the team’s complete dedication. The issues surrounding Deepika’s conditions and availability increased the risk of project delays and losses worth crores. In such a situation, the producers took a practical approach and decided to part ways with her.
Kalki 2898 AD Movie Summary
Kalki 2898 AD is no ordinary film. Directed by Naga Ashwin and produced by Vijayanthi Movies, the massive investment is evident. The project is pan-India—making it a pan-Indian project, targeting audiences across the country, including Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil.
The film’s unique feature is its blending of Indian mythology—specifically the Mahabharata and Lord Vishnu’s tenth incarnation, Kalki—with futuristic science fiction. It’s a unique blend, showcasing the use of technology, robotics, and cutting-edge VFX.
Star Cast:
Prabhas – Lead Role (Futuristic Warrior)
Amitabh Bachchan – Ashwatthama
Kamal Haasan – Villain
Deepika Padukone – Female Lead (First Part)
Disha Patani – Key Role
The level of VFX and world-building in Kalki 2898 AD is truly international—Hollywood quality, in simple words. In terms of budget, it has already become one of the most expensive productions in the Indian film industry.
The first part of the film was released in 2024 and received a great response in the market. Now, a sequel has been announced, but it’s worth noting that Deepika Padukone will not be seen in it.
Deepika Padukone was also removed from the movie Spirit, starring Prabhas in the lead role, a few months ago.
Prabhas’s “Spirit”—what a hype this film has! Sandeep Reddy Vanga is the director, so expectations are bound to be doubled, right? This is an all-India film, with plans to be a national hit—meaning the man is planning something big. With such a massive project, expectations are bound to soar.
Deepika was offered the female lead in the film, but was dropped a few months ago.
In fact, Deepika had said she would only shoot for 8 hours—and even then, the actual shooting would only take up 6 hours, with the rest spent on setup and waiting. It didn’t stop there. In addition to her fee, she also demanded a hefty share of the film’s profits—not just her fee, but a share of the profits as well! What’s more, it was even reported that she refused to speak her dialogues in Telugu.
Imagine, there were talks of paying her 20 crore rupees for the film. The demands grew so exorbitant that Sandeep Vanga became fed up. Finally, he decided enough was enough! Deepika was shown the door.
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