Deepika Padukone's recent departure from the sequel to Kalki 2898 AD has become a major talking point in the film industry, reigniting debates about work culture, commitment, and the evolving demands of actors, especially after embracing motherhood. The official announcement came on September 18, 2025, from Vyjayanthi Movies, the production house behind the Kalki franchise, stating that they were unable to find a "partnership" with Padukone, emphasizing that a film like Kalki 2898 AD "deserves that commitment and much more".

The news has triggered various speculations regarding the reasons behind her exit. While the production house hinted at commitment issues, reports suggest several factors contributed to the decision, including scheduling conflicts, remuneration demands, and disagreements over working hours. According to some reports, Padukone had requested a 25% increase in her fees and insisted on working only seven hours a day. Given that Kalki 2898 AD is a VFX-heavy film, such limited working hours could significantly inflate the budget. Additionally, there were reports that she demanded five-star accommodations for her 25-person entourage.

This isn't the first time in 2025 that Padukone has walked away from a major project. Earlier, she exited Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Spirit, also starring Prabhas, due to creative differences and disagreements over working conditions. Following her departure from Spirit, she was replaced by Tripti Dimri. These back-to-back exits have fueled discussions within the film industry about whether Padukone is being sidelined for prioritizing humane work conditions or if producers are unwilling to adapt to the changing norms.

Amidst the controversies surrounding her exit from Kalki 2898 AD, it is important to note other instances where Deepika Padukone has walked away from films:

1. Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Spirit: As mentioned earlier, Padukone's exit from this Prabhas-led project was attributed to creative differences, disagreements over certain scenes, demands for eight-hour workdays, remuneration, and profit-sharing agreements.
2. The Intern Remake: Padukone was initially slated to star in the Hindi remake of the Hollywood film The Intern alongside Amitabh Bachchan. While reports suggested that she would no longer be acting in the film, she would continue to serve as a producer.
3. Atlee's Action Drama: Despite the Kalki 2898 AD fallout, Padukone is set to star in director Atlee's upcoming action drama alongside Allu Arjun. The project, slated to begin filming in November 2025, will feature Padukone in a warrior role.

The makers of Kalki 2898 AD have not yet announced a replacement for Deepika Padukone. Director Nag Ashwin shared a cryptic note on his Instagram Stories, hinting at the situation with the words, "You can't change what happened, but you can choose what happens next". The director and producers now face the challenge of finding a suitable replacement and maintaining the connection that Padukone had established with audiences through her portrayal of Sumathi.

Padukone's departure from Kalki 2898 AD sequel highlights the ongoing debate about the balance between professional commitments and personal priorities in the film industry. As actors, especially those who are also parents, navigate their careers, the industry may need to adapt to accommodate evolving needs and expectations.