In a move that has shocked fans, Vyjayanthi Movies officially announced that Deepika Padukone will not be part of the sequel to Kalki 2898 AD.
The Telugu production house issued a strongly worded statement on X (formerly Twitter), which many felt squarely blamed the actress for the exit.
“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,” the tweet read.
The announcement, unusually blunt for such high-profile casting news, immediately set social media abuzz.
Fans React
Reddit threads and X posts exploded with shock and speculation:
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“They not only announced she won’t be a part of the movie, they are squarely blaming her for the exit, in very professional language,” wrote one user.
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Others felt her management team should have negotiated a joint announcement to maintain cordiality.
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Some fans have started suggesting replacements for Deepika’s character, naming Keerthy Suresh, Kalyani Priyadarshan, and even Mrunal Thakur, who had a brief role in the first film.
Context Behind the Exit
Deepika played a pivotal role in Kalki 2898 AD, starring alongside Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, and Disha Patani. Her departure comes months after she reportedly walked out of Prabhas’ upcoming action film Spirit, directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga.
Reports had suggested Deepika had placed strict conditions for her participation in projects — including an 8-hour workday, a share in profits, and a request not to deliver dialogues in Telugu — which allegedly led to friction with producers. She was later replaced by Triptii Dimri in Spirit.
Industry Buzz
While some netizens are siding with Deepika, saying the tone of the announcement was unnecessarily harsh, others believe the producers are justified in seeking absolute commitment for a franchise of this scale.
Film trade analysts suggest that the sequel to Kalki 2898 AD will proceed as scheduled, but the casting of Deepika’s replacement will be closely watched, given her character’s importance to the story.
