Speculation had been rife that Deepika Padukone would feature in the fourth season of the Emmy-winning series The White Lotus. However, a recent report by Variety India has dismissed the buzz, stating that the actor will not be joining the upcoming instalment.

According to the publication, Deepika was indeed in talks for a role, but the discussions did not move forward due to the show’s casting requirements. Quoting a source, the report stated, “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 opportunity had to be passed.”

This is not the first time the makers reportedly reached out to her. She had earlier been approached for the third season but is said to have declined the offer at the time, as she was pregnant.

Created, written and directed by Mike White, The White Lotus is a black comedy-drama anthology that debuted on July 11, 2021. The first season was shot in Hawaii, followed by Sicily for season two and Thailand for season three. The forthcoming chapter is expected to be set and filmed in France. The show revolves around the lives of guests and employees at a fictional luxury resort chain and has earned widespread acclaim, bagging 16 Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globes.

Had she come on board, the series would have marked Deepika’s return to Hollywood after her 2017 debut in xXx: Return of Xander Cage, where she starred alongside Vin Diesel, Donnie Yen, Kris Wu, Ruby Rose, Tony Jaa, Nina Dobrev and Toni Collette.

On the work front, Deepika was last seen in Singham Again. She is set to reunite with Shah Rukh Khan for King, an action thriller directed by Siddharth Anand and slated for a December 2026 release. She is also attached to director Atlee’s large-scale project opposite Allu Arjun, tentatively titled AA22XA6.