On Thursday morning, the producers of KALKI 2898AD officially announced that Deepika Padukone will no longer be part of the sequel to the Prabhas-starrer. In their statement, they pointed to commitment issues with Deepika, mentioning that a project like KALKI 2898AD requires a strong commitment, which they felt they couldn’t secure with her.
Sources close to the situation revealed that Deepika’s demands caused frustration among the producers. She requested a 25% raise on her previous salary for the first part of the film and insisted on limiting her shooting hours to just seven per day. Given that KALKI 2898AD involves a lot of special effects, this shorter shooting time could have significantly increased the budget. Despite the producers offering her a luxury vanity for breaks in exchange for longer hours, she declined the offer. They also tried to discuss salary adjustments, especially since Prabhas wasn’t asking for a pay increase, but Deepika and her team remained inflexible.
Additionally, Deepika’s entourage, which consists of around 25 members, requested high-end accommodations and food reimbursements during filming, raising further concerns among the producers about the additional costs. They suggested she reduce her team size, but Deepika insisted on her original demands. Ultimately, after extensive discussions, the producers decided not to move forward with her involvement in the project.
This situation echoes previous challenges faced with Deepika during the making of another project, indicating the need for more collaboration among actors and producers to ensure successful film productions.
