Deepika Padukone takes a sly dig at ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ team

Deepika Padukone recently found herself in the middle of controversy after Vyjayanthi Movies announced that she would no longer be part of Kalki 2898 AD’s sequel. The production house cited her lack of commitment as the reason, a decision that shocked many and sparked criticism online, with netizens accusing the actress of making “unjust demands.”

Two days later, Deepika responded in her own style—without directly addressing the issue. She revealed that she has begun work on her sixth film with Shah Rukh Khan, King.

In her statement, Deepika Padukone highlighted something she learned from the superstar: “The experience of making a movie, and the people you make it with, matter far more than its success.”

Though she didn’t name anyone, the note was seen as a sly dig at the Kalki team. Deepika hinted that she values meaningful collaborations over massive Rs 1000-crore spectacles. Her choice of films like “King” and the upcoming Atlee–Allu Arjun project, over high-profile ventures such as Spirit and Kalki 2, makes it clear: she prioritizes experience and creative satisfaction over just financial results.

She wrote, “The very first lesson he taught me almost 18 years ago while filming Om Shanti Om was that the experience of making a movie, and the people you make it with, matter far more than its success. I couldn’t agree more and have applied that learning to every decision I’ve made since. And that’s probably why we’re back making our 6th movie together?”