"She was the backbone of the film."
The makers of Kalki 2898 AD shocked fans by announcing that Deepika Padukone will not return for the upcoming sequel of the sci-fi epic.
On Thursday, production house Vyjayanthi Movies released an official statement confirming the news, stating they had “decided to part ways” with the Bollywood superstar after “careful consideration.”
Deepika, who played Sumati in the 2023 release, was one of the film’s central characters.
Her departure has now triggered disappointment and anger across social media platforms.
The statement read: “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.”
It continued: “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.”
Fans were particularly upset by the mention of “commitment,” feeling it unfairly questioned Deepika’s professionalism.
Many argued the tone of the announcement was harsh and unnecessarily accusatory.
One fan wrote, “Lack of commitment as if Prabhas is free at home and only fully concentrating on just Kalki, what nonsense!” Prabhas himself is juggling multiple upcoming projects.
Another posted, “Her as Sumati touched my heart so much that I can’t even imagine any other actress. That fire tunnel scene made me cry.”
Some labelled the announcement as “tasteless” and “unprofessional,” suggesting Vyjayanthi Movies could have communicated the news in a more respectful and dignified manner.
A user added, “Deepika doesn’t need Kalki 2898 AD, but Kalki needs Deepika. She was the backbone of the film. No one will watch it without her.”
The film’s first instalment featured Deepika alongside Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan and Disha Patani.
Critics and audiences praised her performance, with many highlighting her emotional depth in key scenes.
Deepika was last seen in Singham Again, directed by Rohit Shetty, alongside Ranveer Singh, Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor, Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff.
The film was released last year.
Looking ahead, the actress has already secured a major role in Atlee’s upcoming sci-fi project, tentatively titled AA22 x A6.
She will star opposite Telugu superstar Allu Arjun.
Despite her exit from the Kalki franchise, Deepika’s career trajectory remains strong, with fans confident that she will continue to land high-profile projects that showcase her versatility.
The Kalki 2898 AD sequel, meanwhile, faces mounting scrutiny, as audiences debate whether the franchise can sustain the same impact without its leading actress.
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