The Deccan Chronicle cites a source as saying that the Bollywood star and her team have been trying to rise her stock in tinseltown after the success of xXx: Return of Xander Cage – but with no luck.
“Deepika did everything to make it big in Hollywood, like Priyanka Chopra,” their alleged insider claimed.
“She hired the best Hollywood agents and even got superstar Vin Diesel to promote her. But to no avail.”
They added: “Deepika’s latest attempt to prove she is still in the reckoning in Hollywood can’t be taken seriously.
“Her publicists claim she lost a ‘lead in a romantic Hollywood film’ because she was busy in Bollywood. How vague is that claim?
“As far as we know, she was never offered an international film after xXx. Why is she letting her team put out fake news?”
Indeed, it was reported earlier this month that her ensemble romcom role had to be dropped because of work for Padmavati, which has only just wrapped filming.
A source told India.com at the time: “She had to let go of the offer since the producers wanted to start filming this year and start workshops for the actors from August onwards.
“Since Deepika is still neck deep into Padmavati, she wouldn’t have been able to take out time and therefore gave it a pass.”
Express.co.uk has contacted a rep about the whole story.
She is, however, expected to be invited back to the xXx family for the next film in that franchise.
Director DJ Caruso confirmed last month that the plan is to make a follow-up, following the movie’s huge success overseas – particularly in China.