Back in September, the makers of Kalki 2898 AD officially announced that Deepika Padukone would not be part of the upcoming sequel. Through a statement on X, the production house explained that the decision was made after much deliberation, noting that a project like Kalki required “complete commitment.” They thanked the actress for her contribution to the first film and wished her well for future ventures. Reports later suggested that creative and financial disagreements might have led to the fallout, including Deepika’s alleged demand for a 25% fee hike and a fixed seven-hour work schedule.
