Alia Bhatt's Kalki 2 role sparks buzz: Replacing Deepika or playing Vaishno Devi?

Rumours linking Alia Bhatt to the Kalki 2898 AD sequel have once again taken over social media. While some reports claim she has been cast in a major new role, others suggest she could replace Deepika Padukone as Sumathi, but the makers are yet to make an official announcement.

In Short

• Social media abuzz with claims that Alia has joined Kalki 2898 AD
• Nothing has been confirmed by the makers of Kalki yet
• Nag Ashwin says the casting for Sumathi is yet to be officially announced

Actor Alia Bhatt seems to have replaced Deepika Padukone in the second part of Kalki 2898 AD. While there's no confirmation on the same, several social media pages have been claiming that the Alpha star will also be seen in Prabhas's blockbuster franchise.

Interestingly, the reports have taken two different directions. While most recent reports suggest that Alia has been roped in for a major new role, others claim she could portray Goddess Vaishno Devi, one of the divine chiranjeevis (immortal) of Kalyuga as per the Hindu legends, protecting Sumathi and her unborn child. AI-generated images imagining the actor in the divine avatar have only added to the online buzz.

At the same time, older reports about Alia replacing Deepika Padukone as Sumathi have also resurfaced. As a result, fans remain divided over whether she is entering the Kalki universe as a new character or taking over one of its most important existing roles. Some reports have even suggested that the actor has already shot a few scenes in Hyderabad. However, neither Alia nor the makers of the film have officially confirmed the speculation.

Amid the growing speculation, director Nag Ashwin recently addressed the matter during an interaction with Great Andhra. Speaking about the role of Sumathi, he said, "We need to announce who plays the Sumathi character in Kalki 2. As of now, everything is speculation only. The character will be there for sure, which we can't remove as it's a very important character." While the filmmaker did not confirm Alia's involvement, he confirmed that Sumathi will continue to play a crucial role in the sequel.

The rumours also come against the backdrop of Deepika Padukone's exit from the project. In September 2025, production house Vyjayanthi Movies announced that the actor would not return for the sequel, stating that the two sides had mutually decided to part ways despite their long association during the first film. Since then, speculation over who will play Sumathi has remained active.

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In fact, this is not the first time Alia Bhatt and Nag Ashwin have been linked professionally. Earlier reports suggested that the filmmaker was developing a large-scale female-led pan-India project with the actor, although that collaboration is yet to be officially announced. For now, however, whether Alia is joining the Kalki 2898 AD sequel, and in what capacity, remains a matter of speculation.

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