Deepika Padukone has not dropped out of Kalki 2, confirms source
Earlier today, reports suggested that actress Deepika Padukone has dropped out of the sequel of Nag Ashwin's Kalki 2898 AD due to friction with its lead star, Prabhas. Now, a source close to the team has dismissed these rumours.
Speaking with NDTV, a source called the rumours of 'friction on sets' 'absolutely false'. According to the source, Kalki 2 is still in pre-production and has not gone on floors yet. 'No shoot, no sets, no interaction and therefore, no question of a fallout,' the source added.
Also Read | 'Deepika Padukone was in a relationship with me for two years, I broke up with her,' says Muzammil Ibrahim
The rumours of Deepika Padukone exiting Kalki 2 sparked days after a public fallout between director Sandeep Reddy Vanga and the actress. Deepika left Prabhas-starrer Spirit after Sandeep refused to agree to her 8-hour shift demand among other things. Later, the director took to his official X handle to indirectly slam the actress. He also accused her of leaking his film's plot.
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Taking to X, Sandeep wrote, 'When I narrate a story to an actor, I place 100% faith. There is an unsaid NDA(Non Disclosure Agreement) between us. But by doing this, You've 'DISCLOSED' the person that you are… Putting down a Younger actor and ousting my story? Is this what your feminism stands for ? As a filmmaker, I put years of hard work behind my craft & for me, filmmaking is everything. You didn't get it. You won't get it. You will never get it. Aisa karo…. Agli baar poori kahani bolna… kyunki mujhe jarra bhi farak nahi padtha. I like this kahawath very much :-) खुंदक में बिल्ली खंबा नोचे!' The post was accompanied by the hashtag Dirty Games.
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Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Deepika Padukone and the debate about work culture in Bollywood
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Especially, in the film industry, there are so many unpredictable coordinates, that the demand—however well-intentioned—could be quite impractical. For instance, where outdoor shooting is involved, weather could play a spoilsport, inevitably delaying the number of hours actors have to shoot. These days, big films have huge budgets riding on them. A significant proportion of such budgets goes in paying the gargantuan amounts that leading actors demand, and get. For big budget films, completing the shooting schedule in time becomes a matter of commercial priority. When a shooting takes place, the number of people involved are so large, that delays in schedule are par for the course. If a film has to be completed in time, inflexible working hours may just not be sustainable. The more important question, however, is whether in any creative industry, work hours can be rigidly defined? Let us suppose a group of youngsters are working on an innovative start-up. Each of them is driven by passion, and the promise of money and success if the venture succeeds. Can any of them insist that to make it succeed he/she will put in only a fixed number of hours of work? In that case a more predictable 9 am to 5 pm job is the better option to opt for. Also Read: Just Like That | From witty one-liners to humorous viral memes: Why humour is the safety valve of a vibrant democracy Deepika has reached the position when she can dictate her demands. She has been working in films for the last twenty years, has an endless list of box-office hits under her belt, and is today Bollywood's highest paid female actor, getting—as per reports—as much as ₹20 to 30 crores per film, plus a share in profits. In addition, she is the highly paid brand ambassador of an entire range of top corporate houses, including Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Adidas and Levi's. She has also invested in a start-up and a self-care brand. Her husband, Ranveer Singh, is a top actor too. But what about those who are aspirants to this same success, but still somewhere near the bottom of the ladder? Most of them would be willing to put in as many hours as are necessary in order to prove their worth and achieve stardom. I would imagine that Deepika herself, when she began her film career with the film 'Aishwarya' in Kannada (2006), would not have made the eight-hour shift her demand. She can do so now, having slogged endless hours to reach where she has. Besides, as the mother of a young daughter, Dua, she has a legitimate reason for more time available for her child and family. The bottom line is that the chaotic rules of the film industry do need reform: better remuneration, working conditions, health and pension benefits for the army of support staff, greater gender parity, and far more financial transparency. If Deepika's demand ignites a larger debate on these questions, it would be a good thing. Also Read: Just like that: Exploring the artistic world of Jatin Das and his legacy Unfortunately, in life, one cannot always have one's cake and eat it too. Are any of our top film stars, who now want more time for their family, willing to reduce their fee so that films cost less and working hours to complete it can be regulated in conformity with commercial viability? How many of those who are now pontificating on greater work-life balance, would have made this a priority when they were still struggling and far from the success they now enjoy? It is said that S.D. Burman, the acclaimed music composer, used to wake up in the middle of the night driven by the inspiration of a new composition, and would immediately call up the lyricist and musicians to try it out. What if these colleagues had turned round and told him that they work eight hours and no more? Deepika ji, it is understandable that you have allegedly made this demand. But I think in any creative industry outside the 9am to 5pm job format, what you can afford to ask for now may not be backed by those who want to reach where you have, or by those directors, producers and their associates, who have helped you reach there. Pavan K Varma is author, diplomat, and former Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha). Just Like That is a weekly column where Varma shares nuggets from the world of history, culture, literature, and personal reminiscences. The views expressed are personal.
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First Post
3 hours ago
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After Mani Ratnam & Kajol, Netflix's 'Rana Naidu' actor Rana Daggubati supports Deepika Padukone's 8-hour shift: 'You can't be forced to...'
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