In a recent development, Vyjayanthi Movies, the production company behind the highly anticipated sequel "Kalki 2898 AD," has officially announced the departure of Deepika Padukone from the project. The announcement, made via a post on X (formerly Twitter), cited the film's need for "commitment and much more" as the reason for the decision.

The tweet from Vyjayanthi Movies 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. 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. We wish her the best with her future works".

The news comes after rumours of potential issues stemming from Padukone's request for shorter work hours following her maternity leave. Some reports suggest that the actress's demands for an eight-hour shift to balance work and family life may have contributed to the production team's decision. Prior to this, there were also reports about Padukone's exit from Sandeep Reddy Vanga's "Spirit," where she allegedly requested a substantial fee and expressed reservations about delivering dialogues in Telugu.

"Kalki 2898 AD," directed by Nag Ashwin, was released in 2024 and featured an ensemble cast, including Amitabh Bachchan, Prabhas, Kamal Haasan, and Disha Patani. The film, inspired by Hindu scriptures, is set in a dystopian future in 2898 AD and follows a group on a mission to protect SUM-80's unborn child, believed to be Kalki. Padukone played the role of SUM-80 alias Sumathi, a pregnant lab subject and the prophesied mother of Kalki.

The first film was a major success, grossing over ₹1200 crore worldwide. The sequel is expected to continue the story, with the central characters Ashwatthama (Amitabh Bachchan) and Bhairava (Prabhas) facing the formidable Yaskin (Kamal Haasan). Nag Ashwin has stated that the sequel will delve deeper into the arcs of Karna and Ashwatthama, giving them more screen time. The film will also explore Yaskin's mission and his expanded role.

While the makers of "Kalki 2" have announced Deepika Padukone's exit, they have not yet revealed who will replace her in the role of Sumathi. Some fans have suggested Kalyani Priyadarshan as a potential replacement.

The production team is currently engaged in pre-production work for "Kalki 2" and filming is expected to commence in the middle of 2025. Producer Aswini Dutt has stated that the sequel is planned for a grand release in the summer of 2026.