Feb 26, 2026 6:16pm IST
Deepika Padukone and ‘The White Lotus’ Parting: What Really Happened (EXCLUSIVE)
For the last few weeks, rumours have been rife that Deepika Padukone has bagged a prominent role in the fourth season of HBO's Emmy Award-winning series, “The White Lotus.” While these unconfirmed reports have certainly generated considerable excitement among fans, Variety India has learned that Deepika is not doing the show.
Sources say Deepika was indeed approached, but things fell through. The reason being that despite the offer being made, Deepika declined to audition for her part. “Auditions are a mandatory part of the casting process for The White Lotus. The makers were very keen on auditioning actors before signing them on. Deepika was not keen on auditioning and that was the reason why the White Lotus opportunity had to be passed,” an industry source told us.
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The makers of “The White Lotus” have been keen on getting Deepika on board for a long time. They had approached the actress for the last season as well, but she had turned down the offer due to her pregnancy at the time. When reports of her fresh discussion surfaced, it sparked excitement among her fans and the Indian viewers of the show, who hoped to finally see her join the internationally celebrated series. The project would have marked a career-turning moment for her and also a much-awaited return to Hollywood, nine years after “xXx: Return of Xander Cage” (2017).
“The White Lotus” is an American black comedy drama anthology series that follows a group of White Lotus hotel guests and employees over the span of a week. Each season introduces a new ensemble cast and a fresh location. The upcoming Season 4 is said to be set at the iconic Château de la Messardière in Saint-Tropez, France. The new season of Mike White’s HBO series features an ensemble led by Alexander Ludwig, AJ Michalka, Steve Coogan, Caleb Jonte Edwards, Helena Bonham Carter, Marissa Long, Chris Messina and Ari Graynor, among others. The shooting is scheduled to begin in April 2026, targeting a premiere in 2027.
Meanwhile, Deepika has two films lined up ahead. She will next be seen opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Siddharth Anand's “King,” which releases in theatres during the Christmas 2026 weekend. Following that, she will feature alongside Allu Arjun in Atlee's ambitious action spectacle, “#AA22xA6."
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