What Really Led to Deepika Padukone’s Exit from Kalki 2898 AD Sequel? High Demands or Creative Conflict?

Mumbai, India:  Fans were left shocked and disappointed when the makers of Kalki 2898 AD officially announced that Deepika Padukone will not be part of the film’s sequel. The news sparked widespread speculation, with many trying to uncover what went wrong between the actress and the production team.

The production house, Vyjayanthi Movies, made the announcement via their official X (formerly Twitter) account, writing:

“This is to officially announce that @deepikapadukone will not be a part of the upcoming sequel of #Kalki2898AD. 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. And a film like @Kalki2898AD deserves that commitment and much more. We wish her the best with her future works.”

Soon after the announcement, Bollywood Hungama reported that the fallout happened due to Deepika’s alleged demands, including a 25% hike in her salary compared to the previous instalment.

She also reportedly demanded fixed working hours, requesting to shoot only 7 hours a day, which didn’t sit well with the filmmakers. Since Kalki 2898 AD is a VFX-heavy film, limited hours would have slowed down production and increased the overall budget.

The makers tried to strike a balance by offering her a luxury vanity van to rest in exchange for longer shoot days. However, even after attempts to adjust, including financial negotiations, her team refused to compromise. It was also reported that Prabhas, the film’s lead, did not ask for any fee hike, which made negotiations more difficult with Deepika’s team.

Amidst the controversy, director Nag Ashwin posted a cryptic Instagram story that went viral. He re-shared a fan clip from the movie featuring Lord Krishna’s entry with the quote:

“You can’t change what happened, but you can choose what happens next.”

Nag Ashwin Instagram

Fans were quick to link the post to Deepika’s departure. One user commented, “Clearly they are not happy with Deepika. And I don’t think it’s just her motherhood. Vyjayanthi is run by women, and Nag writes strong female characters. There’s more to this story.”

Another added, “At least he’s trying to stay positive.”

As of now, Deepika Padukone has not made an official statement addressing the exit or the reported demands, but the incident has certainly stirred up conversations around professionalism, working conditions, and creative alignment in big-budget Indian films.