Priyanka Chopra Not In Kalki 2?
When reports first claimed that Priyanka Chopra Jonas might replace Deepika Padukone in Kalki 2, social media went into full meltdown mode. But behind the buzz, the reality is a lot more complicated.
Priyanka Chopra Not In Kalki 2?
The biggest roadblock right now is money. According to industry insiders, Priyanka was reportedly paid a hefty Rs 30 crore for SS Rajamouli’s upcoming film Varanasi.
In comparison, Deepika Padukone was paid around Rs 20 crore for the first Kalki. Makers are said to be struggling with the budget if Priyanka asks for a similar amount as Varanasi, making remuneration a key concern from the start.
Scheduling is the next big challenge. Priyanka works with extreme structure. She travels with her daughter Malti, completes one schedule at a time, and returns home before committing to the next project. She signs films only when dates, screen time, and workflow are clearly locked. At this stage of her career, she is carefully balancing Hollywood and Indian projects, and sources say she will not confirm Kalki 2 until she finishes Varanasi. Notably, she reportedly has screen time equal to Mahesh Babu in that film, making it a major priority.
Deepika Padukone Was Removed From Kalki 2:
Interestingly, the issues surrounding Priyanka are very similar to what led to Deepika’s exit earlier this year. The makers officially announced that Deepika was no longer part of Kalki 2, stating that a film of this scale deserves commitment. Reports later claimed she had asked for a 25 percent fee hike along with an eight-hour work shift, which reportedly did not align with the production’s expectations.
While Priyanka is said to be open to travelling with her daughter to filming locations, flexibility and fees remain sticking points. Meanwhile, the makers are also considering Alia Bhatt, Sai Pallavi, and Anushka Shetty.
So is Priyanka officially out? Not yet. Talks are ongoing, but for now, timing, budgets, and boundaries are running the show.
