Mumbai, May 4: Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone will not attend the Met Gala in New York this year, opting to focus on her professional filming schedule and her second pregnancy. Sources confirmed that the actor, who is currently expecting her second child with husband Ranveer Singh, is managing a demanding workload that includes shooting for two major upcoming feature films.
Padukone is currently filming “King” alongside Shah Rukh Khan in Cape Town, a project slated for a Christmas 2026 release. Additionally, she is engaged in the production of Atlee’s “Raaka,” featuring Allu Arjun, for which she has already completed an action sequence. The decision to skip the Gala follows the recent viral spread of AI-generated images incorrectly suggesting she was already in attendance at pre-event festivities.
“Her priority has always been and continues to be films,” a source affirmed regarding the actor’s absence from the prestigious fashion event. “With King slated to release at the end of this year and Raaka scheduled to release next year, her priority at the moment is to complete the shoot for these two films.”
The actor is not the only Indian star missing the event due to production conflicts; Priyanka Chopra is also reportedly filming “Varanasi” with director SS Rajamouli in Antarctica. Padukone, who previously attended the Met Gala in 2017, 2018, and 2019, recently shared news of her pregnancy with a social media post featuring her daughter, Dua. Although fans expressed disappointment at her absence, officials stated that her commitment to her slated cinematic releases remains her primary focus.
“And, honestly, being a spectator can be just as fun,” Chopra affirmed in a recent interview, reflecting a sentiment shared by many busy professionals during the high-fashion season.
