Why Did Deepika Padukone Leave ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ and Start Shooting for ‘King’?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Deepika Padukone has started filming for ‘King’ after leaving ‘Kalki 2898 AD’.
- The film ‘King’ features Shah Rukh Khan and a talented ensemble cast.
- The importance of collaboration in filmmaking is emphasized through Deepika's reflections.
- ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ is set in a dystopian future and draws inspiration from Hindu mythology.
- Deepika and Shah Rukh Khan will be working together for the sixth time in ‘King’.
Mumbai, Sep 20 (NationPress) Actress Deepika Padukone, who was recently excluded from the sequel of Kalki 2898 AD, has commenced filming for her upcoming project titled King, alongside the renowned Shah Rukh Khan in Poland.
Deepika shared a heartfelt moment on Instagram, posting a picture of her holding hands with Shah Rukh, her co-star from the blockbuster Om Shanti Om, where she made her debut in Bollywood back in 2007. She reflected on the valuable lesson he imparted to her during their first collaboration.
She expressed: “The very first lesson he taught me nearly 18 years ago while filming Om Shanti Om was that the experience of creating a film, along with the people you work with, is far more significant than its commercial success.”
Deepika further stated, “I wholeheartedly agree and have utilized that wisdom in every choice I've made since. Perhaps that’s the reason we are collaborating on our sixth film together? #king #day1 @iamsrk @s1danand.”
The anticipated film is directed by Siddharth Anand and boasts an impressive cast, including SRK’s daughter Suhana Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Jaideep Ahlawat, Anil Kapoor, and Abhay Verma, promising a thrilling drama with a star-studded ensemble.
This film marks the first time the superstar will share the screen with his daughter Suhana Khan, while Abhishek Bachchan is set to portray the antagonist.
On September 18, the production team for Kalki 2898 AD officially declared that Deepika Padukone would not continue with the sequel, citing that the epic mythological science-fiction project requires “commitment and much more.”
Vyjayanthi Movies, the film's production house, announced this on X, previously known as Twitter.
The message stated: “A film like @Kalki2898AD warrants that commitment and more. We are officially announcing that @deepikapadukone will not be part of the upcoming sequel of #Kalki2898AD.”
It further elaborated: “After thorough deliberation, we have decided to go our separate ways. Despite the extensive journey of creating the first film, we could not establish a partnership. A project like @Kalki2898AD deserves that commitment and more. We wish her all the best in her future endeavors.”
Released in 2024, the film directed by Nag Ashwin featured a stellar cast including Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan, Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, and Disha Patani.
Inspired by Hindu lore, the film is the inaugural installment in the planned Kalki Cinematic Universe. Set in a dystopian future in 2898 AD, it chronicles a group on a mission to protect a lab subject’s unborn child, believed to be Kalki.
The storyline unfolds in a post-apocalyptic world, where a group strives to rescue a woman expecting the 10th and final avatar of Lord Vishnu, Kalki, from a tyrannical god-king, Yaskin.