Overview

• Vyjayanthi Movies announced Padukone’s exit on X, saying the sequel “deserves that commitment and much more” and that they could not “find a partnership.”
• Padukone, who played a pivotal role in the 2024 blockbuster, has not commented on the decision as of publication.
• Director Nag Ashwin shared a cryptic post—“You can’t change what happened, but you can choose what happens next”—which followers linked to the news.
• Unverified reports from unnamed sources cite factors such as a fee increase, shorter daily shoots, and entourage accommodations; a separate report claims her role was reduced to a cameo.
• The announcement drew sharp reactions online and revived industry debate over scheduling and conditions on large-scale productions, while the filmmaker has previously said he hopes to start the sequel’s shoot toward year-end.