In a major development for one of Indian cinema’s biggest franchises, Vyjayanthi Movies has announced that actor Deepika Padukone will not feature in the sequel to Kalki 2898 AD.
The production house issued an official statement on X, revealing that despite a long collaboration during the making of the first film, they were “unable to find a partnership” with the actor.
“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,” the statement read.
Director Nag Ashwin recently confirmed that the sequel is likely to go on floors towards the end of this year.
Padukone played the role of SUM-80, also known as Sumathi, in the first installment. Her character was central to the narrative as the prophesied mother of Kalki, making her absence from the sequel a significant shift in the storyline.
Earlier this year, Padukone also stepped away from Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit following reported differences over work schedules, remuneration, and profit-sharing terms.
Kalki 2898 AD, a mythological sci-fi drama inspired by the Mahabharata, featured Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, and Disha Patani in key roles. The film, set in a dystopian future, was hailed for its ambitious storytelling and futuristic visual scale.
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