After being allegedly dropped from Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit, Deepika Padukone is now out of the sequel to Kalki 2898 AD — and the gossip grapevine has gone full throttle. From diva demands to blink-and-you-miss-it screen time, the whispers are juicier than a monsoon mango. One thing’s clear: something definitely went down, and the industry is buzzing louder than a red carpet blow-dryer.
Let’s start with the most dramatic version, shall we? Rumor has it Deepika was less than thrilled about her hotel situation during shoot planning. She allegedly claimed her luxury accommodation was a whole two hours away from the set — a claim that others quickly clocked at 20 minutes tops. Math is hard, we get it. But it didn’t stop there. Her entourage — reportedly 15 to 20 deep — apparently needed to be booked into the same five-star hotel. Because what’s a global star without her personal glam squad, nutritionist, spiritual healer, and someone to hold her coffee?
But let’s put the travel tantrums aside for a second, because there might be a more grounded reason behind the exit. Word on the street is that Deepika’s role in the Kalki sequel was reduced to a modest 10–15 minutes. And with the spotlight shifting heavily onto a high-stakes showdown between Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, and Prabhas, her character was reportedly more decorative than dynamic. For someone of Deepika’s stature? That’s not a cameo — that’s a cameo insult.
So, did she walk away in protest? Or was she gently shown the exit when the logistics got too messy? Officially, everyone’s playing it cool with the usual “creative differences” line. But off the record, it’s a blend of diva drama and power-play politics. Whether she left or was let go, it’s the kind of behind-the-scenes buzz that Bollywood thrives on — especially when a high-profile project like Kalki is involved.
In the end, it might not matter who left whom. What matters is that Deepika’s no longer part of the sequel, and Kalki is moving full speed ahead without her. As for Deepika? Well, let’s just say she’s likely already eyeing her next leading-lady gig — preferably one that doesn’t come with travel complaints, trimmed roles, or hotel drama. Because if there’s one thing we know, it’s this: Deepika doesn’t do second fiddle, even if the orchestra includes legends.