• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

Is Alia Bhatt replacing Deepika Padukone in Kalki 2898 AD? Deepika Padukone won't be reprising her role as Sumathi in the Kalki 2898 AD sequel and Alia Bhatt is reportedly in talks to take over the character. This casting change comes after the first film's massive success, with Alia potentially joining Prabhas and Nag Ashwin's project. While no official announcement has been made, industry buzz suggests Alia is the top contender for the role.

Although the production team hasn't made an official announcement, insiders suggest she's the frontrunner to replace Deepika Padukone, who exited the project due to creative and commitment differences. This potential casting move has generated significant buzz, especially with Alia having previously expressed interest in working with director Nag Ashwin.

In September 2025, the makers issued an official statement confirming Padukone's exit from Kalki 2898 AD. "This is to officially announce that Deepika Padukone will not be a part of the upcoming sequel of Kalki 2898 AD. 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 Kalki 2898 AD deserves that commitment and much more. We wish her the best with her future works," read the statement.

ALSO READ: Union Health Ministry Appoints Deepika Padukone As Mental Health Ambassador

Deepika recently broke her silence on the ongoing debate surrounding her exit from Kalki 2 and Spirit. The actress talked about her working policy, stating, "By virtue of being a woman, if that's coming across as being pushy or whatever, then so be it. But it is no secret that a lot of superstars, male superstars, in the Indian film industry, have been working for eight hours for years, and it's never made headlines."

ALSO READ: 'Not Going To Get Away With Shorter Hours', Says Konkona Sen Sharma Amid Deepika Padukone's 8-Hour Shift Row

"I don't want to take names now and make this into a whole thing, but it is very commonly, publicly known that a lot of male actors have been working for eight hours a day for years. A lot of them only work for eight hours Monday to Friday. They do not work on weekends," she added.