New Delhi, Sept. 18 -- Putting months of speculation to rest, the makers of Kalki 2898 AD have officially confirmed that Deepika Padukone will not be a part of the film's sequel.

Vyjayanthi Movies, the production banner behind the Nag Ashwin-directed franchise, shared a statement on X announcing the update. "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," the note read.

Director Nag Ashwin, in a recent interview, revealed that the sequel is likely to begin production by the end of this year if schedules align.

Deepika played a...