Is Deepika Padukone’s role in 'Kalki 2' at risk following 'Spirit' fallout?

Dubai: Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone is reportedly set to be dropped from the upcoming sci-fi film Kalki 2, starring Prabhas. This comes amid earlier reports that she was also removed from director Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit.

An Instagram page called Bollywood.mobi reported that the actress’s request for shorter working hours after recently welcoming her first child is creating “friction on sets”.

Sources suggest the makers of Kalki 2 are now considering reducing or even removing her role, although no official confirmation has been made.

Why was Deepika allegedly dropped from Spirit?

Earlier, Bollywood Hungama cited a source claiming that Deepika’s refusal to shoot for more than six hours a day and her demands for contract amendments led to her exit from Spirit.

The insider said, “Sandeep Reddy Vanga got the shock of his life when Deepika Padukone refused to shoot for more than 6 hours a day. The actress, via her agency, also demanded extra payment for every day beyond the agreed schedule.”

Vanga’s veiled response

While not naming Deepika directly, Vanga addressed the situation via a pointed post on X (formerly Twitter), writing:

“When I narrate a story to an actor, I place 100% faith. There is an unsaid NDA between us. But by doing this, you’ve ‘DISCLOSED’ the person that you are… Putting down a younger actor and ousting my story? Is this what your feminism stands for?”

He ended the post with a cryptic Hindi proverb and the hashtag #dirtyPRgames, suggesting he believed the actress was using media to control the narrative.

Triptii Dimri confirmed as Deepika’s replacement

Following Deepika's reported exit from Spirit, actress Triptii Dimri—who appeared in Vanga’s previous film Animal—was confirmed as the new female lead.

Sharing the announcement via social media, Dimri posted an image of the Spirit title poster with her name in multiple languages. She captioned it:

“Still sinking in… So grateful to be trusted with this journey. Thank you @sandeepreddy.vanga… Honoured to be a part of your vision.”

No official word yet

As of now, Deepika Padukone or the makers of Kalki 2 have not issued any statements regarding her status in the film. The situation continues to unfold as industry insiders speculate about how the actress’s new priorities as a mother are affecting her career choices.