Deepika Padukone has officially begun shooting for her sixth film with Shah Rukh Khan, titled King, shortly after her exit from the Kalki 2898 AD sequel was announced. The actress shared a heartfelt post on Instagram, reflecting on the first lesson she learned from Shah Rukh Khan almost 18 years ago during the filming of Om Shanti Om.

In her post, Deepika shared a photo of herself holding hands with Shah Rukh Khan and wrote, "The very first lesson he taught me almost 18 years ago while filming Om Shanti Om was that the experience of making a movie, and the people you make it with, matter far more than its success". She added, "I couldn't agree more and have applied that learning to every decision I've made since. And that's probably why we're back making our 6th movie together? #king #day1". Her husband, Ranveer Singh, reacted to the post with "Bestest Besties!".

This announcement came just days after Vyjayanthi Movies, the production house behind Kalki 2898 AD, officially announced that Deepika would not be a part of the sequel. The statement read, "This is to officially announce that @deepikapadukone will not be a part of the upcoming sequel to Kalki 2898 AD. 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. A film like Kalki 2898 AD deserves that commitment and much more. We wish her the best with her future works".

Reports suggest that Deepika's exit from Kalki 2898 AD sequel may have stemmed from significant script changes that reduced her role to a cameo. Sources told India Today that the sequel was initially planned around her character, SUM-80 (aka Sumathi), but the changes left her team "blindsided". While the production house cited a lack of "partnership" and commitment as the reason for her departure, some reports claim that Deepika chose to exit the project after learning about the diminished role. There were also rumors that Kamal Haasan's increased screen time might have contributed to this shift.

Adding to the speculation, some reports also claimed that Deepika had requested a 25 percent increase in her acting fee, limited her shooting schedule to seven hours per day, and demanded 5-star accommodations for her 25-person crew.

Kalki 2898 AD featured a dynamic ensemble cast including Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, and Deepika Padukone. The film revolves around a high-stakes mission to protect SUM-80 and her unborn child, believed to be the prophesied Kalki.

Meanwhile, King is generating excitement as it marks the sixth collaboration between Deepika Padukone and Shah Rukh Khan. The two have previously starred in hits such as Om Shanti Om, Chennai Express, Happy New Year, Pathaan, and Jawan. King is also expected to be the theatrical debut of Shah Rukh Khan's daughter, Suhana Khan, and will feature Abhishek Bachchan in a negative role. The film is directed by Siddharth Anand and is expected to be released in 2026.