Deepika Padukone will not be part of Ayan Mukerji’s Brahmastra 2, with the actor’s official spokesperson dismissing recent reports linking her to the sequel, states Hindustan Times.
“Any recent reports of Deepika Padukone being a part of Brahmastra 2 or associated with the project in any capacity are untrue,” her spokesperson said.
Rumours about Deepika’s casting in the highly anticipated sequel had recently circulated online, prompting clarification from her team.
Brahmastra 2 is the second instalment in Ayan Mukerji’s fantasy adventure franchise, which began with Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva in 2022.
The film starred Ranbir Kapoor as Shiva and Alia Bhatt as Isha, alongside Amitabh Bachchan, Nagarjuna, Mouni Roy and Shah Rukh Khan in key roles.
The first film follows Shiva, a young man who discovers mysterious powers and embarks on a journey to understand their origins while becoming involved with the Astraverse.
The film grossed more than ₹400 crore worldwide and emerged as a major commercial success.
Ayan had announced in April 2023 that the upcoming instalments would be “bigger and more ambitious” than the first film.
Ranbir had also confirmed that Brahmastra 2 was in development during a fan interaction in 2023.
He revealed that the film was deep into the writing process and said Ayan had envisioned the sequel on a much larger scale.
The actor also acknowledged the criticism faced by the first film, particularly regarding its dialogues and the chemistry between Shiva and Isha, and said the team was taking the feedback into consideration while developing the sequel.
While Deepika’s reported casting has now been denied, Ranveer Singh has been linked to Brahmastra 2 as Dev, the antagonist and Shiva’s father.
The character was teased towards the end of the first film, setting up the conflict for the sequel.
Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva released in theatres on 9 September, 2022.
Deepika, meanwhile, is set to appear next in King alongside Shah Rukh Khan. She also has Allu Arjun’s Raaka in her upcoming projects.
