Deepika Padukone Breaks Silence on Kalki 2 Exit, Confirms ‘King’ with SRK

Deepika Padukone Opens Up on Kalki 2898 AD Exit, Confirms Sixth Film With Shah Rukh Khan: King.

Deepika Padukone has addressed her exit from the Kalki 2898 AD sequel and shared news of reuniting with Shah Rukh Khan for King. Posting a picture of their hands clasped, she wrote about her long-standing collaboration with SRK, noting, “The experience of making a movie, and the people you make it with, matter far more than its success… That’s probably why we’re back making our sixth movie together.”

The actress tagged Shah Rukh Khan with #King and #Day1, signaling the start of a new chapter in one of Bollywood’s most celebrated on-screen pairings. King will mark Deepika’s sixth film with the superstar since Om Shanti Om (2007).

Vyjayanthi Movies confirmed Deepika’s departure from the Kalki 2898 AD sequel, citing the need for full commitment to a project of its scale: “After careful consideration, we have decided to part ways… We wish her the best with her future projects.” Director Nag Ashwin’s cryptic Instagram post—“You can’t change what happened, but you can choose what happens next”—fueled speculation about her exit.

Industry insiders note that Deepika’s decision aligns with her approach to carefully select projects. Earlier this year, she had exited Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit over work demands and creative differences. While discussions around her Kalki departure continue, fans are excited to see her chemistry with SRK once again in King.