Hyderabad: In a surprising development, Vyjayanthi Movies, the production house behind the blockbuster film Kalki 2898 AD, has officially announced that actor Deepika Padukone will not be returning for the film’s sequel. The announcement, made on Thursday via social media, has sparked widespread speculation, with a new report by Bollywood Hungama shedding light on the alleged reasons behind the decision.
According to the report, a source close to the producers claimed that the split was due to a disagreement over Deepika Padukone’s financial and professional demands. The actress reportedly requested a 25% increase in her acting fee for the sequel, a request that was difficult for the production house to meet, especially since lead actor Prabhas had not asked for a similar increment.
The source further alleged that Padukone also insisted on a strict shooting schedule of only seven hours a day. For a VFX-heavy film like Kalki 2898 AD, such short shoots would significantly increase the production budget. The producers reportedly offered to provide a luxury vanity van for her to rest in exchange for longer working hours, but this was refused.
Beyond her personal demands, the report also detailed the requirements for her team. “Deepika’s team is a big one with almost 25 people travelling with her on the sets. They demanded a five-star accommodation and reimbursement for food through the shoot for her entourage,” the insider stated. The producers were unwilling to cover the expenses for the team’s stay and food on top of her already-high fees, an issue that is common for many Hindi film producers, according to the source.
The production house’s official statement hinted at a lack of “commitment” on Padukone’s part, stating, “A film like @Kalki2898AD deserves complete commitment, and we wish her all the best in her future projects.” It is believed that after her team refused to budge on the demands, the producers made the decision to part ways.
This is the second high-profile film with Prabhas that Deepika Padukone has reportedly exited recently. Earlier this year, she was also said to have been dropped from Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s film Spirit, also starring Prabhas, over similar demands for an eight-hour workday and a share of the film’s profits. Padukone, who became a mother last year, has reportedly been focused on balancing her career with motherhood, leading to her requests for a more structured work schedule.