Makers: “Deepika Padukone will not be part of Kalki 2”

It is now officially confirmed that Deepika Padukone will not reprise her role in the sequel to “Kalki 2898 AD”, directed by Nag Ashwin and produced by C. Ashwini Dutt. The Prabhas starrer turned into a massive blockbuster, grossing over Rs 1000 crore worldwide. However, “Kalki 2” has been struggling to kick off, primarily due to Prabhas’s packed schedule.

Adding to the hurdles, production house Vyjayanthi Movies today issued a statement announcing their separation from Deepika Padukone. The statement read that both parties decided to part ways, and the actress will not be a part of the sequel.

In “Kalki 2898 AD,” Deepika essayed Sumati, the pregnant woman around whom the story revolved. Her character had significant screen time, making her absence in the sequel a surprising move.

The official note read:

“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.”

Industry buzz suggests there were disagreements over scheduling and commitment.

Director Nag Ashwin wanted her to allocate more dates and wait for the project to commence, but Deepika reportedly chose to move on with other films. She has already signed on to star in Allu Arjun’s sci-fi drama #AA22xA6 and is lining up more Bollywood projects.