Deepika Padukone is entering a new phase in her career, one that puts storytelling above spectacle. After an eventful year that saw her exit two massive projects, the actor has now shared that big-budget films no longer excite her the way they once did.
In 2025, Deepika began the year attached to two major pan-India films but ended it with neither. Her fallout with Sandeep Reddy Vanga resulted in her walking out of Spirit, while she was later dropped from the sequel to Nag Ashwin’s Kalki 2898 AD. Both changes sparked discussions, but Deepika has now explained what truly matters to her at this point.
Speaking to Harper’s Bazaar India, she said she has moved beyond box office numbers. “Because honestly, how much more fame, how much more success, how much more money? At this stage, it’s not about that anymore. It’s not about the ₹100-crore films, or even the ₹500–₹600 crore ones,” she said.
When the interviewer pointed out that she has already achieved those milestones, Deepika admitted that the scale of a film no longer motivates her. Instead, she wants to empower new voices. “What excites me is empowering other talent. My team and I are now focused on enabling storytelling and supporting other creative minds, writers, directors, and even new producers. That’s what feels meaningful to me now.”
Earlier this year, reports suggested that Deepika’s request for an 8-hour work shift as a new mother played a role in her exit from Spirit, which now stars Triptii Dimri. A similar surprise came in August when makers of Kalki 2898 AD announced she would not return for the sequel to the 2024 blockbuster featuring Prabhas and Amitabh Bachchan.