Deepika Padukone’s Kalki 2898 AD exit revives old claims of ‘unprofessional’ behaviour

Deepika Padukone’s exit from Kalki 2898 AD 2 has left industry watchers buzzing, with speculation over what went wrong. The announcement by Vyjayanthi Movies came early morning, confirming that the actor would not return for the sequel of the 2024 hit that starred Prabhas and Amitabh Bachchan.

In an official statement, the production house wrote, “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.”

This marks the second major film Deepika has lost in recent months. Earlier, she was dropped from Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit, where Triptii Dimri replaced her opposite Prabhas. While no official reason has been given for her Kalki exit, industry chatter points to date clashes and monetary disagreements. Reports suggest her team prioritised Atlee’s upcoming project, redirecting dates away from Kalki.

Against this backdrop, an old interview of producer Ramesh Taurani has resurfaced, adding fuel to the debate. Back in 2012, Deepika had abruptly walked out of Abbas–Mustan’s Race 2 after shooting for nearly a week. Taurani had expressed frustration in an interview, saying, “The saddest part is that Deepika was supposed to meet me on January 27. At the last minute, she texted to say her manager would explain. Deepika was in Mumbai for days but refused to answer calls, reply to messages or meet me. In my 25 years in this industry, I have never been so disrespected by any actor.”

The producer also claimed his team adjusted schedules so she could simultaneously shoot for Karan Johar’s Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani. But her manager informed them she had accepted a Hollywood project instead. Taurani said, “We tried everything to convince her. Unfortunately, she was not willing to budge and showed no remorse for the inconvenience caused. I had no choice but to file a complaint against her in AMPTPP and CINTAA.”

The dispute was eventually resolved, and Deepika returned to Race 2, which released in 2013 and played a key role in her career that year. Her recent exit from Kalki 2898 AD 2, however, has once again brought such past controversies back into the spotlight.