Mumbai : The makers of Kalki 2898 AD officially announced on Thursday that actress Deepika Padukone will not join the upcoming sequel, saying the epic mythological sci-fi film deserves “commitment and much more.”
Vyjayanthi Movies, the film’s production company, shared the update on X (formerly Twitter).
The post read, “A film like @Kalki2898AD deserves that commitment and much more. This is to officially announce that @deepikapadukone will not join the upcoming sequel of #Kalki2898AD.”
It added, “After careful consideration, we decided to part ways. Despite the long journey of making the first film, we could not find a partnership. A film like @Kalki2898AD deserves full commitment. We wish her the best in her future projects.”
Released in 2024, Nag Ashwin directed Kalki 2898 AD featured an ensemble cast including Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, and Disha Patani.
The story, inspired by Hindu scriptures, launches the Kalki Cinematic Universe. Set in 2898 AD, it follows a group trying to protect lab subject SUM-80’s unborn child, believed to be Kalki.
In a post-apocalyptic world, the team races to save a woman pregnant with Lord Vishnu’s 10th avatar, Kalki, from the evil supreme god-king Yaskin.
Deepika last appeared on screen in 2024’s Singham Again, directed by Rohit Shetty. The film starred Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Deepika Padukone, Tiger Shroff, Arjun Kapoor, and Jackie Shroff.
The story drew parallels to the Ramayana, with Bajirao Singham and his team embarking on a mission to rescue his wife while confronting a mysterious and formidable antagonist.
