Deepika Padukone rang in her 40th birthday on Monday, with an outpouring of love from fans, colleagues, and friends across social media. As birthday wishes flooded in, many fans also hoped the milestone
would be marked with a surprise announcement—perhaps a new film reveal or the first look from one of her upcoming projects. Adding fuel to that excitement, a post on X (formerly Twitter) began circulating rapidly, claiming that filmmaker Siddharth Anand had unveiled a poster of Deepika from his upcoming film King.
Viral ‘King’ Poster Sparks Confusion
The viral post read, “She doesn’t need a bullet to kill you! Presenting Deepika Padukone in #King – Siddharth Anand via IG (sic).” The image appeared convincing at first glance and was widely shared by fans who believed it to be an official reveal timed to her birthday.
She doesn’t need a bullet to kill you!
Presenting Deepika Padukone in #King – Siddharth Anand via IG 🥶 pic.twitter.com/oUdoB1i0VP— Raj (@idfcwau) January 5, 2026
However, the poster turned out to be misleading. Siddharth Anand has not shared any such poster on his Instagram or other official platforms. Upon closer inspection, it also emerged that the image used in the viral artwork was lifted from Pathaan, Deepika’s 2023 blockbuster—also directed by Anand—strongly suggesting that the poster was either AI-generated or digitally manipulated.
Deepika Padukone’s Upcoming Films
Despite the false alarm, Deepika does have major projects in the pipeline. She is currently working on King, which is already in production and marks yet another collaboration with Shah Rukh Khan and Siddharth Anand. The actress had begun shooting for the film last year and had shared a reflective note at the time.
She wrote that the first lesson Siddharth Anand taught her nearly 18 years ago during Om Shanti Om was that the experience of making a film—and the people you work with—matters far more than its eventual success. She added that this philosophy has guided every professional decision she has made since, which is why they are now collaborating for the sixth time.
Deepika is also part of Atlee’s next big-scale project starring Allu Arjun, which was officially announced last year. However, it remains unclear whether she has commenced shooting for the film yet.
The Spirit And Kalki Exit Controversy
Last year, Deepika also made headlines for stepping away from two high-profile projects—Spirit and Kalki 2898 AD: Part 2. While Spirit was never formally announced, reports suggested that scheduling disagreements, including her request for an eight-hour work shift, may have led to her exit.
Meanwhile, the makers of Kalki 2898 AD officially confirmed that Deepika would not return for the sequel, bringing an end to speculation surrounding her involvement.
As Deepika Padukone enters a new decade, birthday surprises may have been premature—but her career trajectory remains firmly in the spotlight, with ambitious projects and headline-making choices continuing to shape her journey.
