Overview
- The studio said it could not “find a partnership” with the actor and stressed that a film like Kalki “deserves that commitment and much more.”
- Trade reports allege she sought about a 25% fee increase, a 7–8 hour daily cap on shooting, and five‑star accommodations for a large entourage, though these claims are unverified.
- Separate coverage reports her role was revised down to a cameo in the sequel, which sources say spurred her decision to leave.
- Director Nag Ashwin posted a cryptic line on social media—“You can’t change what happened, but you can choose what happens next”—shortly after the announcement.
- Padukone has not commented publicly; the exit follows her earlier departure from Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit, a context frequently cited in current reporting.