Bollywood, September 20, 2025: Just days after stepping away from the sequel to Kalki 2898 AD, Deepika Padukone has announced her next big project, reuniting with Shah Rukh Khan in ‘King’, directed by Siddharth Anand. The news broke through a heartfelt Instagram post shared on Saturday, where Deepika appeared to reflect on her journey with SRK, subtly addressing the buzz around her Kalki exit.
In the post, Deepika shared a close-up image holding Shah Rukh Khan’s hand and captioned it with a line that caught everyone’s attention:
“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.”
The timing of the post has sparked plenty of speculation online. Reddit users were quick to connect it with her recent departure from Kalki 2898 AD. Many interpreted the message as a soft, yet clear response to the film’s producers, Vyjayanthi Movies, who earlier said they had “parted ways” with Deepika due to the film’s need for a “higher level of commitment.”
While Deepika did not directly comment on the controversy, fans and followers praised her for what they saw as a graceful response. One Redditor wrote, “She called in the final boss to end all the PR drama,” referring to Shah Rukh Khan. Others described the post as classy, strategic, and perfectly timed.
Deepika Begins A New Chapter with SRK
The film ‘King’ marks another collaboration between Deepika and Shah Rukh, following hits like Om Shanti Om, Chennai Express, and Pathaan. The movie boasts an ensemble cast, including Suhana Khan, Jackie Shroff, Anil Kapoor, Rani Mukerji, Abhishek Bachchan, Arshad Warsi, Jaideep Ahlawat, and Abhay Verma.
The project is directed by Siddharth Anand, who also helmed Pathaan and War, and is expected to blend action with high emotional stakes.
Besides King, Deepika is also gearing up for another major film with Allu Arjun, directed by Atlee. The project is currently working under the title AA22xA6 and promises to bring together Bollywood and South Indian cinema in a fresh collaboration.
While her sudden exit from Kalki raised eyebrows, Deepika’s latest move seems to have refocused the narrative. Without directly addressing the controversy, her post has drawn attention back to her work and upcoming releases.
