Days after Vyjayanthi Movies confirmed Deepika Padukone’s exit from the Kalki 2898 AD sequel, new reports reveal that the actress had already completed nearly 20 days of shooting before leaving the project, her demand for a pay hike—well above the previously discussed 25%—was a key factor. An insider explained that Deepika was aware of the sequel and the performance-heavy role designed for her. She had already shot extensively while filming Part 1, and her schedule for Part 2 was meant to be finalized together, so claims of a date clash are inaccurate, the source said.
Vyjayanthi Movies officially announced her departure on X (formerly Twitter) on September 18, stating that the partnership could not continue. A film like Kalki 2898 AD deserves full commitment, and despite the long journey of making the first film, we could not find that, the statement read. The post also noted a similar incident in May, when Deepika walked out of Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit over work-hour demands, profit-sharing terms, and language-related concerns after returning from maternity leave.
Without directly commenting on the Kalki reports, Deepika shared an Instagram post revealing she has begun shooting for Shah Rukh Khan’s King. She reflected on her early lessons from Om Shanti Om, saying that the filmmaking experience and collaborators matter more than a film’s success—a philosophy guiding her choices.
In the first Kalki, Deepika played Sumathi, a pregnant woman, alongside a star-studded cast including Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Prabhas, and Disha Patani. Made on a reported Rs 600 crore budget, the film earned over Rs 1,000 crore globally.