Is 'Varanasi' star Priyanka Chopra replacing Deepika Padukone in 'Kalki 2' amid her shift demand?

Vyjayanthi Movies confirmed Deepika Padukone’s exit from the Kalki 2898 AD sequel yesterday by sharing an official note on X, which 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,” the note further added.

Priyanka Chopra replacing Deepika Padukone?

A report says the Varanasi star could be the next choice for the makers but no confirmation has been made yet even though netizens seem to be sharing their excitement.

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Reacting to the post, a Reddit user commented, “Kashibai finally getting one up on Mastani.. nice (sic).” Another netizen wrote, “That would actually be an upgrade.. Any others would’ve seemed like a downgrade (sic)."

One more Reddit user commented, “How will they explain the replacement in the plot though😅 They can atleast explain Deepika’s absence as her character’s death or she got lost somewhere or whatever lol (sic)."

Did  Deepika shoot for the sequel for 20 days?

A source told News18, “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.”

It added, “Deepika was fully aware of the sequel and the strong, performance-driven role created for her. 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.”

About Varanasi

_Varanasi_ is SS Rajamouli and Mahesh Babu’s most ambitious world-building venture yet. Fans have been waiting for years to see these two come together, and the excitement is at its peak. Rajamouli has already put Indian cinema on the global map, and now his collaboration with South superstar Mahesh Babu is the next big thing to watch out for. This marks the beginning of the promotional journey.