It seems the drama around Deepika Padukone’s exit from the sequel to Kalki 2898 AD refuses to die down. On Wednesday morning, fans noticed that the actor’s name does not appear in the end credits of the film on streaming. Given that Deepika was one of the three faces on the poster, this is highly unusual. As videos and screengrabs of the edited end credits were shared on social media, fans supported Deepika and criticised the makers for being ‘petty and unprofessional’.

Deepika Padukone not present in Kalki 2898 AD credits?

Kalki 2898 AD, a dystopian science-fiction and mythological fantasy, starred Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, and Deepika in the lead roles. Deepika played SUM-80, a pregnant woman being hunted by bounty hunter Prabhas and protected by Ashwatthama (Amitabh). The film by Nag Ashwin blended the elements of the Mahabharata with dystopian sci-fi, and grossed over ₹1000 crore. Always intended to be part 1 of many, the film ended with the message: ‘Kalki Cinematic Universe continues’.

In screengrabs shared by fans on social media on Tuesday and Wednesday morning, Deepika’s name was not present in the credits. When HT checked the film’s versions on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video on Wednesday afternoon, the actor’s name was back in the credits, right below Amitabh Bachchan’s name.

However, the apparent disappearance of the credit in the circulating videos was enough for Deepika’s fans to write angry messages against the makers of the film. A Deepika fan page shared the end credits video on social media and wrote, “OTT Version of Kalki Part 1 Removes Deepika Padukone’s Name from Credits.”

Last month, Vyjayanthi Movies, the makers of Kalki 2898 AD, had announced that Deepika was no longer part of the film’s planned sequel. Reports later claimed the move was due to Deepika’s ‘unprofessional’ demands, including increased remuneration and shorter working hours.

Vyjayanthi Movies haven’t officially addressed the disappearance of Deepika’s name from the end credits so far.

About the Deepika-Kalki row

Kalki 2898 AD also featured Kamal Haasan in a cameo as the antagonist. The sequel was to feature him prominently, showing how Ashwatthama rescues SUM-80 from his clutches. It will also delve into the connections between Prabhas’ character and the Mahabharata. The saga is inspired by the Kalki avatar of Lord Vishnu, giving it a modern touch. There has been no announcement on Deepika’s replacement for the film, and a release date has not been announced.

Deepika’s upcoming films

Meanwhile, Deepika had earlier exited Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit as well due to her demand for an 8-hour shift as a new mother. The actor is now working with Shah Rukh Khan in King and opposite Allu Arjun in his collaboration with Atlee.