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Is Deepika Padukone Likely to Exit Kalki 2 As Well Due to Work Hours Demand?
Updated on: 06 June, 2025 10:14 AM IST |Amruta Karulkar
Deepika Padukone in Kalki 2898 AD
Is new motherhood prompting a major shift in Deepika Padukone`s career? The Bollywood A-lister is currently at the centre of industry buzz, with reports suggesting her demands for a better work-life balance have led to her departure from one massive project and could jeopardise her role in another. While fans eagerly await her return to the silver screen, speculation is rife about her future in two of the most anticipated upcoming films.
Just days after news broke of her alleged ousting from director Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s ‘Spirit’, a new report suggests Padukone might also be leaving the much-awaited sci-fi epic, ‘Kalki 2898 AD’.
The situation escalated when director Vanga took to the social media platform X, launching a thinly veiled attack. He accused the actress of playing “dirty PR games” and betraying his trust after he had narrated the story to her. In a fiery post, he wrote, “When I narrate a story to an actor, I place 100% faith… You’ve ‘DISCLOSED’ the person that you are… Putting down a younger actor and ousting my story? Is this what your feminism stands for?”
Following this public fallout, it has been confirmed that actress Triptii Dimri, who previously collaborated with Vanga on the blockbuster ‘Animal’, has been cast as the female lead in ‘Spirit’. Dimri expressed her gratitude on social media, stating she was “honoured to be a part of your vision." As the industry watches closely, the question remains whether one of India`s biggest stars is being professionally sidelined for prioritising her new role as a mother.
Also Read: Mani Ratnam Backs Deepika Padukone Amidst `Spirit` Exit and 8-Hour Shift Debate
Just days after news broke of her alleged ousting from director Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s ‘Spirit’, a new report suggests Padukone might also be leaving the much-awaited sci-fi epic, ‘Kalki 2898 AD’.
Friction Over Work Hours
The rumours around ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ follow closely on the heels of reports that Deepika has been dropped from Sandeep Reddy Vanga`s ‘Spirit’. The fallout allegedly occurred over the actress`s demands, which reportedly included eight-hour workdays, a significant salary, and a share in the film`s profits.The situation escalated when director Vanga took to the social media platform X, launching a thinly veiled attack. He accused the actress of playing “dirty PR games” and betraying his trust after he had narrated the story to her. In a fiery post, he wrote, “When I narrate a story to an actor, I place 100% faith… You’ve ‘DISCLOSED’ the person that you are… Putting down a younger actor and ousting my story? Is this what your feminism stands for?”
Following this public fallout, it has been confirmed that actress Triptii Dimri, who previously collaborated with Vanga on the blockbuster ‘Animal’, has been cast as the female lead in ‘Spirit’. Dimri expressed her gratitude on social media, stating she was “honoured to be a part of your vision." As the industry watches closely, the question remains whether one of India`s biggest stars is being professionally sidelined for prioritising her new role as a mother.
Also Read: Mani Ratnam Backs Deepika Padukone Amidst `Spirit` Exit and 8-Hour Shift Debate
Kalki 2 Role Also in Question
Adding to the controversy, another report has surfaced, this time concerning Prabhas’s futuristic saga, Kalki 2. An Instagram page claims that Deepika’s request for shorter working hours is creating "friction on sets". The unverified report suggests the filmmakers are considering reducing or completely removing her role from the sequel. However, there has been no official statement from the producers of Kalki 2 to confirm this speculation, leaving fans to wonder about her future in the sci-fi franchise.ADVERTISEMENT
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