Sai Pallavi likely to replace Deepika in 'Kalki' sequel
What's the story
The sequel to Nag Ashwin's sci-fi film Kalki 2898 AD has sparked fresh buzz, especially after Deepika Padukone's exit from the project. Now, speculation is rife that Sai Pallavi may replace her in the role of SUM-80 (Sumathi). A representative of the film has confirmed that they are considering Pallavi for this pivotal role. However, no official confirmation has been made yet.
Role details
'Nothing has been finalized yet': Film's representative
The representative told Hindustan Times, "Nothing has been finalized yet. But yes, the makers are looking at Sai to play SUM-80 after Deepika's exit. They think she'll be a perfect fit for the role." However, they dismissed rumors that Pallavi had already been confirmed for the role and that shooting would resume soon. "All these are just rumors because nothing has been finalized yet. Please wait for official confirmation," they said.
Character arc
Recap of SUM-80's role in 'Kalki 2898 AD'
In Kalki 2898 AD, SUM-80 (played by Padukone) is a pregnant lab subject of Project K and the prophesied mother of Kalki. The film ends with Prabhas's bounty hunter Bhairava escaping with a pregnant SUM-80, while Ashwatthama (Amitabh Bachchan) realizes that Bhairava is the reincarnation of his friend Karna. Kamal Haasan's Supreme Yaskin vows to hunt her down after being injected with her fetal serum sample.
Cast details
About the film and its box office collection
The film, released in June 2024, stars Prabhas, Bachchan, Haasan, and Padukone. The film was a box office success, reportedly earning ₹1,042 crore worldwide. In the Telugu version of Kalki 2898 AD, Sobhita Dhulipala had dubbed for Padukone. Padukone's exit from the project was announced in September 2025, following her departure from another Prabhas-led film, Spirit.