Thu Sep 18 12:30:00 UTC 2025: ## News Article:

**Deepika Padukone Out of ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ Sequel Amidst Report of Salary and Scheduling Demands**

**Hyderabad, India** – Vyjayanthi Movies has announced that Deepika Padukone will not be part of the ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ sequel, sparking widespread speculation about the reasons behind the departure. In a statement released on X, the production house cited a lack of “commitment” as the primary reason for the split.

However, a new report by Bollywood Hungama suggests that Padukone’s exit stems from demands for a significant pay raise and reduced working hours. According to sources close to the production, Padukone allegedly requested a 25% increase in her acting fee and stipulated a maximum of 7 hours of shooting per day.

“Given that ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ is a VFX heavy film, such short shoots was likely to shoot up the budget,” the source claimed. Negotiations reportedly failed, with Padukone’s team allegedly unwilling to compromise on their demands. These demands purportedly included luxury accommodations and full reimbursement for food and lodging for her 25-person entourage, which the producers also balked at.

“They demanded a five-star accommodation and reimbursement for food through the shoot for her entourage. Why should the producers pay for the stay and food of an actor, over and above the fees? This is an issue that a lot of Hindi producers also face.”

Vyjayanthi Movies’ statement emphasized the need for a strong partnership in a project of this scale. “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,” they wrote.

This isn’t the first time Padukone’s work habits have caused issues. Earlier this year, she was reportedly replaced in Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s ‘Spirit’, also starring Prabhas, due to similar demands regarding working hours, profit sharing, and language preferences. Triptii Dimri has since replaced Padukone in that project.

The first installment of ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ features a star-studded cast including Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, and Kamal Haasan, with Padukone playing a pivotal role. The future of Padukone’s character in the franchise remains unknown.

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