When Deepika Padukone’s last-minute Race 2 exit sparked Ramesh Taurani’s fury: ‘I have never been so disrespected by any actor’

When Deepika Padukone quit Race 2

Deepika Padukone’s sudden departure from Kalki 2 has sent shockwaves through the industry and among fans. The sequel to the highly anticipated sci-fi epic Kalki 2898 AD was expected to feature the actress in a prominent role, making her exit all the more surprising.

The announcement came via the official X handle of the film’s team, who subtly cited issues of commitment.

“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 statement read.

The news comes just months after Deepika was removed from Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit, further fuelling speculation and raising questions online about whether the actress is becoming selective — or, as some claim, “unprofessional.”

Many, however, have defended Deepika, pointing out that her request for reduced working hours following the birth of her child is a reasonable and necessary adjustment. Still, the debate continues to divide opinion across social media.

In the midst of this controversy, an old interview featuring producer Ramesh Taurani has resurfaced online, bringing back memories of a similar situation from over a decade ago.

Flashback to Race 2 (2012)

As per News18, in 2012, Deepika Padukone had reportedly exited Abbas–Mustan’s action thriller Race 2 after filming for just six days. Ramesh Taurani, the film’s producer, had openly criticised her decision at the time and labelled it as “unprofessional.”

“The saddest part is that Deepika was supposed to meet me on January 27. At the last minute, she texted to say that she would not be coming but her manager would explain her concerns and ‘find a way for us to work together’. Deepika was in Mumbai from January 27 to January 31 but refused to answer my calls, reply to messages or meet me. In my 25 years in this industry, I have never been so disrespected by any actor and we have worked with the biggest and the best," Taurani had said.

He added that he even tried meeting her on the sets of Cocktail to resolve the matter but found her unwilling to cooperate.

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“We tried everything to convince her not to do this. I really tried to find a way to work things out with Deepika. Unfortunately, she was not willing to budge and did not even show an ounce of remorse for the massive inconvenience caused to us, our actors and our senior directors. After this, I had no choice but to file a complaint against her in the AMPTPP and CINTAA. I am deeply saddened by this unprofessional behaviour," he had said.

Following the complaint, Deepika eventually returned to Race 2 with renegotiated terms. The film went on to star Saif Ali Khan, Anil Kapoor, and Ameesha Patel.