Deepika Padukone begins shooting for 'King' with Shah Rukh Khan after exit from Kalki 2898 AD Sequel

Deepika Confirms 'King' role with emotional instagram post

On Saturday, September 20, 2025, Deepika took to Instagram to share an emotional post featuring a close-up photograph of herself holding hands with Shah Rukh Khan. The image was taken on the sets of 'King', which is currently being filmed in Poland under the direction of Siddharth Anand.

In her heartfelt caption, Deepika reflected on the valuable lesson she learned from Shah Rukh Khan during their first film together, 'Om Shanti Om', nearly 18 years ago. She wrote, "The very first lesson he taught me almost 18 years ago while filming Om Shanti Om was that the experience of making a movie, and the people you make it with, matter far more than its success. I couldn't agree more and have applied that learning to every decision I've made since. And that's probably why we're back making our 6th movie together?"

The post was met with overwhelming support from fans and fellow celebrities, with her husband Ranveer Singh commenting "Bestest Besties!" on the announcement.

Sixth Collaboration Between Iconic Duo

This marks the sixth time Deepika Padukone and Shah Rukh Khan will share screen space together. Their previous collaborations include 'Om Shanti Om' (2007), which marked Deepika's Bollywood debut, followed by 'Chennai Express' (2013), 'Happy New Year' (2014), 'Pathaan' (2023), and 'Jawan' (2023).

'King' features an ensemble cast including Shah Rukh Khan's daughter Suhana Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Jaideep Ahlawat, Anil Kapoor, Rani Mukerji, Arshad Warsi, Jackie Shroff, and Abhay Verma. The film will mark the first time Shah Rukh Khan shares screen space with his daughter Suhana, while Abhishek Bachchan is set to play the antagonist.

Exit from Kalki 2898 AD Sequel

Deepika's announcement comes just two days after the makers of 'Kalki 2898 AD' officially announced her departure from the sequel. Vyjayanthi Movies released a statement on Thursday, September 18, stating: "This is to officially announce that @deepikapadukone will not be a part of the upcoming sequel of #Kalki2898AD. After careful consideration, we have decided to part ways. Despite the long journey of making the first film, we were unable to find a partnership. And a film like @Kalki2898AD deserves that commitment and much more".

According to industry sources, Deepika's exit was reportedly due to significant script changes that reduced her character Sumathi's role to merely a cameo in the sequel. The sequel was initially planned to revolve around her character, but last-minute changes left her team surprised, ultimately leading to the decision to part ways.

Current Production Status

'King' is currently in production in Poland, with the cast and crew actively shooting in Warsaw. The film, expected to release in 2026, is being produced as a high-octane action thriller that promises to showcase Shah Rukh Khan in an intense new avatar.

Director Nag Ashwin of 'Kalki 2898 AD' responded to Deepika's exit with a cryptic Instagram story that read, "You can't change what happened, but you can choose what happens next," which many interpreted as a subtle reference to the controversy.

The original 'Kalki 2898 AD', released in June 2024, was a massive commercial success, earning over ₹1,000 crores worldwide and establishing itself as one of Indian cinema's highest-grossing films. Deepika played the pivotal role of SUM-80 or Sumati in the dystopian sci-fi epic alongside Prabhas and Amitabh Bachchan.

As 'King' continues production, fans eagerly await the reunion of one of Bollywood's most successful on-screen pairs, while the makers of 'Kalki 2898 AD' reportedly scout for a replacement to carry forward their ambitious sequel.