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Following her dramatic exit from Nag Ashwin’s Kalki 2898 AD, Deepika Padukone has announced her next project: Shah Rukh Khan’s King. On Saturday, the actor took to Instagram to share a post, accompanied by a heartfelt caption that subtly reflected on recent events. The post featured a photo of Deepika holding hands with Shah Rukh Khan—her first co-star from her debut film Om Shanti Om.
In the caption, she wrote: “The very first lesson he taught me almost 18 years ago while filming Om Shanti Om was that the experience of making a movie, and the people you make it with, matter far more than its success. I couldn’t agree more and have applied that learning to every decision I’ve made since. And that’s probably why we are back making our sixth movie together?”
Though intended as an announcement, the post was widely interpreted as a response to the ongoing Kalki 2898 AD controversy. Fans quickly took to the comments section, voicing their support and speculating on the subtext of her words.
One user wrote, “For Kalki 2898 AD makers.” Another commented, “Thank you for speaking up!! People shouldn’t question your commitment or professionalism—you promoted and worked on the movie even during the final months of your pregnancy. We’ve seen your work ethic over the years. You know your worth and have every right to demand it.” Another read: “Haters are barking about her downfall and blah blah blah. The Queen is busy shining.”
The post came days after Vyjayanthi Movies, the production house behind Kalki 2898 AD, officially confirmed Deepika’s exit.
In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, the studio said: “This is to officially announce that Deepika Padukone will not be a part of the upcoming sequel of Kalki 2898 AD. 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. A film like Kalki 2898 AD deserves that commitment and much more. We wish her the best in her future works.”
Following the announcement, reports emerged suggesting a financial disagreement may have led to the split. According to Bollywood Hungama, Deepika reportedly requested a 25% hike in her fee for the sequel, along with five-star accommodation and food reimbursement for her 25-member team. A source claimed, “The makers tried to negotiate and requested her to reduce the size of her team, but she was firm with her demands.”
However, a conflicting report from India Today on Friday cited an insider who alleged that the real issue was a significant change in the script—one that drastically reduced Deepika’s role. “Initially, the film was supposed to feature Deepika in the lead. Later, the makers altered the script, reducing her role to a cameo. This shocked her team, who had been looking forward to the sequel,” they said.
This isn’t the first time Deepika has made headlines for exiting a major project. She previously walked away from Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit, also starring Prabhas. At the time, reports suggested she had requested a profit-sharing deal, an 8-hour workday, and declined to deliver lines in Telugu. While these demands sparked some criticism, many industry voices supported her, especially her stance on reasonable working hours.
Apart from King, Deepika is currently working on Atlee’s next with Allu Arjun. The makers had previously shared a video where Deepika was seen working with VFX team of the film in Los Angeles.
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