Deepika Padukone not part of ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ sequel, confirm makers

The makers of ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ on Thursday officially announced that actress Deepika Padukone will not be a part of the upcoming sequel. The production house stated that a film of this scale and vision demands “commitment and much more.”
Vyjayanthi Movies, the banner behind the project, issued the update on X (formerly Twitter). “This is to officially announce that @deepikapadukone will not be a part of the upcoming sequel of ‘Kalki 2898 AD’,” the note read. The statement further added, “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 ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ deserves that commitment and much more. We wish her the best with her future works.”

Released in 2024, the Nag Ashwin-directed ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ featured a star-studded cast including Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, and Disha Patani. Inspired by Hindu scriptures, the film marked the beginning of the Kalki Cinematic Universe.

Set in a dystopian future in the year 2898 AD, the story followed a group determined to protect lab subject SUM-80’s unborn child, believed to be the prophesied Kalki. The narrative unfolded in a post-apocalyptic world where survivors sought to save a pregnant woman carrying Lord Vishnu’s tenth and final avatar from the clutches of an evil god-king, Yaskin.

Deepika Padukone was last seen in the 2024 release ‘Singham Again’, directed by Rohit Shetty. The film starred Ajay Devgn in the titular role, alongside Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Deepika Padukone, Tiger Shroff, Arjun Kapoor, and Jackie Shroff.

‘Singham Again’ marked the fifth instalment of Shetty’s Cop Universe franchise. Drawing parallels with the Ramayana, the story revolved around Bajirao Singham and his team embarking on a mission to rescue his wife while confronting a mysterious and powerful antagonist.