Deepika Padukone’s alleged exit from Kalki 2, the sequel to the highly anticipated Kalki 2898 AD, is all over the news. Although official word is yet to come, various media outlets have made headlines about what supposedly went wrong between the actress and the producers of the Prabhas-starrer project.
As per Bollywood Hungama, Deepika allegedly insisted on a 25% fee hike for Kalki 2, in addition to a 7-hour working day restriction. The producers were said to have tried negotiating with the actress, but she stuck to her demands. Contributing to the tension, Deepika allegedly took a crew of almost 25 members with her and insisted on five-star facilities and reimbursements for full food for her crew during the shoot of the film. These requirements, as per reports, were too high for the production team.
Deepika Padukone to next star in XXX4 set in Mumbai, India alongside Vin Diesel and Jason Momoa??
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A Telugu news website, The Aakashavaani, also stated that Deepika demanded her fees be doubled from what she was paid for the first movie. The newspaper quoted sources stating that producers were surprised by the high financial demands and eventually broke up with the actress.
Although Deepika hasn’t replied directly to these claims, she subtly diverted attention by unveiling her next biggie — Shah Rukh Khan’s King. She also announced another high-profile project with Allu Arjun, making it clear that her career is still going stronger despite the Kalki 2 controversy.
During this furore, speculation about Deepika’s potential return to Hollywood has been rekindled once again. Vin Diesel recently posted on Instagram teasing a roster of upcoming movies, including a new entry in the XXX series, potentially set in Mumbai. A specific line—”Xander’s next adventure in Mumbai”—has the fans guessing if Deepika Padukone will be coming back as Serena Unger, her XXX: Return of Xander Cage character. The 2017 movie was her Hollywood debut and was widely welcomed due to the on-screen chemistry between Deepika and Diesel.
Also Read: Deepika Padukone’s Latest Post with Shah Rukh Khan Sparks Speculations about Kalki 2898 AD Sequel
Now that Kalki 2 is out of contention for the time being, and big-time Bollywood and potentially Hollywood assignments pending, Deepika appears to be forging her own path. Whether her conditions were excessive or merely a representation of her worth in the marketplace is a moot point, but one thing is sure — she remains one of the world’s most in-demand names in cinema.
