Deepika Padukone not associated with Brahmastra 2 in any capacity: Spokesperson

Deepika Padukone is not associated with Brahmastra 2, her spokesperson has said. The clarification counters viral reports that claimed the actor would play a major role in the sequel.

In Short

• Deepika Padukone's spokesperson has confirmed that she is not a part of Brahmastra 2
• Reports of her lead role in the sequel are baseless
• Padukone had a brief role in first Brahmastra (2022)

Contrary to recent reports claiming that Deepika Padukone is set to play a major role in Ayan Mukerji’s Brahmastra 2, India Today Digital has learnt that the actor is, in fact, not associated with the project.

Padukone’s spokesperson clarified that reports claiming she is part of the second film in the fantasy franchise, which stars Ranbir Kapoor in the lead, are completely baseless.

Deepika Padukone’s spokesperson said, “All recent reports of Deepika Padukone being a part of Brahmastra 2 or associated with the project in any capacity are untrue.”

The speculation around Deepika’s involvement, however, did not come out of nowhere. The actor had a blink-and-miss appearance in Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva, released in 2022, where she was introduced as Amrita, a powerful Astra wielder and an important figure in the mythology of the Astraverse.

Though her face was shown only briefly, the sequence was significant. Deepika’s Amrita is seen carrying a child and escaping from Dev, the mysterious character who is revealed towards the end of the film. The sequence effectively planted the seeds for the story that Brahmastra 2 was expected to explore.

The first film followed Ranbir Kapoor’s Shiva, a young man who discovers that he possesses the power of the Agnyastra and is connected to a larger world of ancient Astras. Alia Bhatt played Isha, while Amitabh Bachchan appeared as Guru and Nagarjuna as Anish. Mouni Roy played Junoon, who attempts to acquire the Brahmastra for her mysterious master, Dev.

The film ended with Shiva defeating Junoon and preventing the Brahmastra from falling into the wrong hands. But the bigger reveal came in the post-climax sequence, when Dev — the powerful figure whose identity had been teased throughout the film — was introduced. The sequence featuring Amrita further suggested that the conflict between Shiva and Dev was deeply personal.

That is also why Deepika’s name has repeatedly surfaced whenever the sequel has been discussed. If Brahmastra 2 is indeed centred on Dev, as its original title — Brahmastra Part Two: Dev — suggested, Amrita’s role naturally becomes important to the story.

Recent reports claimed that Deepika would have a major role in the sequel, while Alia Bhatt, who played Isha opposite Ranbir in the first film, would have an extended cameo. However, with Deepika’s spokesperson now explicitly stating that she is not associated with the project in any capacity, those reports appear to have been premature.

When will Brahmastra 2 go on floors?

The wait for Brahmastra 2 has been a long one. The first film arrived in September 2022 with the promise of a trilogy, but Ayan Mukerji’s subsequent commitments, the scale of the Astraverse and the extensive visual-effects work required for the franchise have contributed to the delay.

The sequel is now expected to go on floors in 2027. Ranbir is currently occupied with Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana, and recent reports have suggested that he could begin shooting for Brahmastra 2 after wrapping the epic project.

Mukerji has also previously indicated that the second instalment will expand the mythology introduced in the first film rather than simply continue Shiva and Isha’s story. The focus is expected to shift towards Dev, his connection with Shiva, and the larger history of the Astras.

While the makers have not officially revealed the complete plot or confirmed the casting for every major character, Amrita is expected to be an important piece of this mythology given what the first film established.

And that is what made the latest Deepika reports particularly intriguing: the actor had already been introduced as Amrita, so her return would have been a logical continuation rather than a new casting development.

But for now, that continuation isn’t happening — at least not with Deepika.

Meanwhile, Padukone, who is expecting her second child with husband Ranveer Singh, has two major projects in the pipeline. She will reunite with Shah Rukh Khan in King and will also be seen alongside Allu Arjun in Raaka.

So, the Deepika Padukone-Brahmastra 2 connection may have made perfect sense on paper. But according to her spokesperson, she isn’t part of the film at all.

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