Deepika Padukone's exit from the sequel of Kalki 2898 AD has grabbed the headlines over the last few days after the makers confirmed the news. Now, the latest reports revealed that the actress had reportedly begun shooting for the film before exiting the film.
According to News18 Showsha, a source close to the production revealed that Deepika Padukone sought a 25% fee hike, confident that she wouldn’t be replaced given the immense attention her character garnered after the release of Kalki 2898 AD.
The publication quoted the source who said, "Deepika Padukone’s demand for a pay hike — significantly higher than 25% — stemmed from her conviction that she is irreplaceable. The real turning point lay in how her management approached the negotiations. Deepika was fully aware of the sequel and the strong, performance-driven role created for her."
The source also revealed that Deepika had reportedly shot for 20 days. "In fact, she had already filmed nearly 20 days of Part 2 while shooting Part 1 — something director Nag Ashwin himself confirmed in several media interactions. Her schedule for the next phase was always meant to be decided mutually, so the claim of a date clash holds no merit," he concluded.
Recently, makers of Kalki 2898 AD, Vyjayanthi Movies took to X and confirmed Deepika's exit from the film franchise. The post 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 projects."
Also read: Deepika starts shoot for King with Shah Rukh Khan amid Kalki 2 controversy, writes 'the people you make movie with, matter far more than its success
Soon after the announcement of Kalki 2, unverified reports surfaced alleging that Deepika Padukone had demanded a 25% fee hike, limited her working hours to a maximum of seven per day, and asked for arrangements to accommodate her entourage of nearly 30 people. These claims sparked a major controversy over her supposed inflexible work conditions.
On the work front, Deepika will be seen with Shah Rukh Khan in King, directed nby Sidharth Anand. She is also a part of Atlee's next directorial with Allu Arjun, tentatively titled A22xA6.
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