Following reports of Deepika Padukone’s potential exit from Kalki 2898 AD, Kalyani Priyadarshan emerged as a fan favorite for the sequel. Her recent Rs 300 crore hit and expressed interest in the franchise have fueled speculation. Kalyani, touched by the audience enthusiasm, acknowledged being on the trending list, marking a significant national recognition for her.
A few weeks ago, when reports surfaced that Deepika Padukone would not be returning for the second installment of Kalki 2898 AD, social media erupted with speculation on who should step into the franchise next. Among the names circulating which ranged from Alia Bhatt to Priyanka Chopra , one name that began trending organically was that of Kalyani Priyadarshan. She has recently delivered a Rs 300 crore global hit in Dulquer Salmaan’s Lokah: Chapter 1 Chandra, in one of her interviews during the promotion of the film also stated that she would love to be part Kalki.Kalyani’s rising national recognition made her a popular fan choice. Fancast edits and threads discussing how she would fit into the Kalki universe picked up steam.In an exclusive conversation with ETimes, Kalyani reacted to the chatter for the first time. She admitted that while she had seen her name floating as part of audience speculation, she was surprised and touched by the enthusiasm.She said , “ I think there was a section that said everything for every actor over there but it was nice to see my name as part of that list for sure. It was very sweet to see my name as part of the list. But it’s very hard for me to comment on the direction that they’re going in. Obviously, to even be put in the list of names that I knew were in contention and that people wanted to see, it was a nice feeling because it was a new feeling that hadn’t happened before,” she said.While she remained cautious, she has now arrived in the national conversation.As of now, the makers of the film have not confirmed who will take the female lead slot in the sequel, nor have they addressed the online storm directly. But whether or not Kalyani eventually becomes a part of the cinematic universe, the buzz has already done something significant; it has placed her firmly on the radar for films across languages.
