While it was initially rumoured that Priyanka Chopra would replace Deepika Padukone in 'Kalki 2', new reports suggest that it might not be so easy due to her alleged high fees.
Deepika Padukone starrer, Kalki 2898 AD, saw major success after its release last year, on June 27, 2025. Since then, a sequel to the movie has also been announced, with fans eagerly awaiting it. However, recent reports left Deepika's fans highly disappointed when it was revealed that the actress will no longer be part of Kalki 2.
While the official announcement suggests a mutual and amicable parting from both her and the film production's side, it has widely been reported that the real reason lay in the fact that her demands for higher pay and call for shorter working hours couldn't be met. After her exit from the film, the media caught wind of Priyanka Chopra allegedly replacing Deepika for director, Nag Ashwin's film. However, new reports suggest it might be quite difficult to rope in the global icon. Here's what we know.
According to a report by the entertainment portal, Bollywood Hungama, Priyanka Chopra is allegedly in talks to board the Kalki 2 project. However, although the film's makers want her to replace Deepika Padukone, the original star of the renowned movie, they are facing several hurdles. Unfortunately, most of these reasons appear to be similar to those that led to Deepika's exit from the film in September 2025. If Bollywood Hungama's report is to be believed, Priyanka Chopra has allegedly demanded a price almost as high as Deepika's, though the exact amount has not been disclosed. Additionally, a source was also quoted by the entertainment portal as saying:
“Priyanka Chopra Jonas is most definitely in serious negotiations for this project. However, there are some hurdles, ironically, similar to the ones that expelled Deepika from the project. Priyanka requires flexibility regarding her time and schedule in order to fulfil her mom duties. However, this is not an insurmountable issue, as Priyanka is agreeable to travelling with her daughter to locations.”
Several reports suggest that, apart from Priyanka Chopra, many other big names in Bollywood are still in the running as Deepika's replacement in Kalki 2. Some of these well-known actresses include Alia Bhatt, Sai Pallavi, and Anushka Sharma. The reason behind the makers wanting to cast these top actresses lies in the fact that they want someone who will be on par with Prabhas, especially when it comes to star power.
For those unversed, the makers of Kalki 2 revealed that Deepika would be departing from the film, citing a lack of commitment. The announcement came when they took to their official X (formerly Twitter) account to reveal it a few months earlier in 2025. The tweet 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 works.”
Which actress do you think will finally replace Deepika Padukone in Kalki 2?
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