Deepika Padukone Exits 'Kalki 2898AD Part 2' Over Fee Dispute

Deepika Padukone, who had earlier stepped away from Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit, has now exited Nag Ashwin’s Kalki 2898AD Part 2, which also stars Prabhas. While speculation initially linked her departure to Prabhas, reports reveal that the real reason was a financial dispute. Deepika had shot for 20 days for the second part during the first film’s schedule and requested a 25 percent increase in her fee for the sequel. Confident in the popularity of her character from the first installment, she assumed she would not be replaced, but her demand ultimately led to her removal from the project.

The first part of Kalki 2898AD was well-received, and Deepika’s performance garnered widespread acclaim, which likely reinforced her expectation of a fee hike. This marks the second consecutive high-profile exit for the actress. Her departure from Spirit was reportedly due to her insistence on an 8-hour workday, which led the filmmakers to recast her with Tripti Dimri opposite Prabhas.

Tripti Dimri now joins Prabhas for the first time in Spirit, while she has previously collaborated with director Sandeep Reddy Vanga in the Ranbir Kapoor-starrer Animal. Fans eagerly await updates on who will replace Deepika in Kalki 2898AD Part 2 and how the makers will proceed with the sequel.