Bollywood star Deepika Padukone has officially stepped away from the much-anticipated sequel od Kalki 2898 AD. The announcement made by Vyjayanthi Movies on September 18, 2025, marks a significant casting shake-up in one of India's most ambitious sci-fi franchises.
But shortly after her exit, Deepika Padukone from both Kalki 2898 AD and Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Spirit on Friday (10), on the occasion of 'Mental Health Day', addressed the controversy surrounding her alleged demand for an 8-hour workday. In an interview with CNBC-TV18, she clarified that her stance was not unreasonable, emphasizing that male superstars have been working 8-hour shifts for years without criticism.
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Because a woman demanded, it became headline
“By virtue of being a woman, if that’s coming across as being pushy or demanding, then so be it,” she said. “It’s no secret that a lot of male actors in the Indian film industry have worked for eight hours a day, Monday to Friday, for years—and it never made headlines.”
Deepika explained that her decision to insist on fixed working hours was linked to creating balance in her personal life. “The industry is called an ‘industry,’ but we have never really worked like one,” she said. “It’s still quite disorganized, and I think it’s time we brought some structure into this culture.”
Her remarks received both support and criticism within the industry. While several colleagues praised her for advocating healthier work standards, others questioned whether such constraints could affect high-budget, multi-location productions like Kalki 2898 AD.
Balancing stardom and motherhood
Deepika’s recent choices reflect a conscious shift toward prioritizing motherhood over relentless professional schedules. Sources close to the actor revealed that she has become selective with new projects, ensuring they allow her to spend time with her family. Her exit from Spirit was also reportedly linked to her refusal to extend shooting hours or travel extensively during the initial months of motherhood.
Despite stepping back from some projects, Deepika’s career remains on an upward trajectory. She resumed shooting for Siddharth Anand’s King shortly after her Kalki exit. The film features Shah Rukh Khan, Suhana Khan, and Abhishek Bachchan, and marks another collaboration between Deepika and Anand after Pathaan. She is also set to star in Atlee’s next, tentatively titled AA22xA6, opposite Allu Arjun.
A defining transition in her career
Deepika Padukone’s departure from Kalki 2898 AD sequel underscores the growing debate over work-life balance and gender dynamics in Indian cinema. As one of Bollywood’s most bankable stars, her decision to set boundaries—especially in an industry known for demanding production schedules—has reignited conversations about professionalism and gendered expectations in the workplace.
While Vyjayanthi Movies prepares to move forward with Kalki 2898 AD 2 and new faces joining the ensemble, Deepika’s exit marks the end of a creative collaboration that began with immense anticipation. For the actor, however, it seems less like a setback and more like a redefinition of priorities—one that places personal well-being and family above the pressures of stardom.
