Deepika Padukone was allegedly set to earn her highest fee ever for Spirit, with a reported payment of Rs 20 crore. The actress was slated to star alongside Prabhas in Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s film.
Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone created a buzz among her fans after reports of her starring in Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s next project swirled around. She was reported to play a female lead in the upcoming pan-India film, Spirit, alongside Prabhas.
Fans were eagerly anticipating a new update on the project. However, the latest reports have suggested that the actress is no longer a part of Spirit.
According to Gulte, Deepika has reportedly opted out of filmmaker Sandeep Reddy’s film after repeated clashes over her demands.
However, the sources have dubbed the actress’ demands “unprofessional.”
Fans were eagerly anticipating a new update on the project. However, the latest reports have suggested that the actress is no longer a part of Spirit.
According to Gulte, Deepika has reportedly opted out of filmmaker Sandeep Reddy’s film after repeated clashes over her demands.
However, the sources have dubbed the actress’ demands “unprofessional.”
The Gulte report further mentioned that Deepika allegedly asked for an 8-hour workday, with around 6 hours for actual shooting. However, things between the actress and the filmmaker got worse after Deepika demanded a hefty pay cheque along with a percentage of the film’s profits.
According to reports, Deepika was allegedly set to earn her highest fee ever for Spirit, with a reported payment of Rs 20 crore.
Deepika Padukone and filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga are yet to confirm the reports of her removal from the project.
Meanwhile, the shooting of Spirit was already allegedly delayed because of Deepika’s pregnancy. The filming was scheduled to start in late 2024, and Deepika reportedly had rejected the offer due to the scheduling conflicts.
However, the filmmaker offered revised shooting schedules, which led her to agree to the project.
Meanwhile, Deepika Padukone was last seen blockbuster hit, Kalki 2898 AD. She took a hiatus from acting for a while to focus on her daughter, Dua Padukone Singh, whom she welcomed with her husband, Ranveer Singh, in September 2024.
Deepika Padukone’s departure from Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s upcoming film Spirit, starring Prabhas, has stirred considerable controversy. Reports indicate that her exit was due to disagreements over working conditions and remuneration. Specifically, Padukone allegedly requested an eight-hour workday, with approximately six hours dedicated to actual shooting, and demanded a substantial fee along with a share in the film’s profits. Additionally, she expressed reluctance to deliver dialogues in Telugu and had reservations about participating in bold scenes, which are reportedly integral to the film’s narrative .
In response to her departure, Sandeep Reddy Vanga made pointed remarks on social media, accusing an unnamed actor—presumed to be Padukone—of engaging in “dirty PR games” and attempting to undermine the film’s reputation . This public exchange has led to a broader debate about professionalism and gender dynamics in the film industry. While some critics labeled Padukone’s demands as unprofessional, others defended her stance, arguing that setting boundaries and negotiating fair compensation are legitimate aspects of an actor’s professional rights .
Following Padukone’s exit, actress Triptii Dimri has been cast as the female lead in Spirit. The film, currently in pre-production, is anticipated to commence shooting later this year. The incident has ignited discussions about actor-director collaborations and the importance of clear communication and mutual respect in creative partnerships.
Deepika Padukone’s exit from Spirit—a much-anticipated film directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga and starring Prabhas—has created a buzz across the entertainment industry. Multiple media sources have reported that Deepika chose to opt out due to what she and her team considered “unreasonable and unprofessional working conditions.”
According to reports, Deepika had laid out specific professional requirements, including an 8-hour workday with limited working hours on set (reportedly no more than 6 hours of actual shooting). She also allegedly sought profit-sharing along with a high upfront fee, which is increasingly common among top-tier actors. Furthermore, she was reportedly uncomfortable with certain bold scenes and intense sequences that were central to the script. She also expressed concerns about delivering lengthy dialogues in Telugu, as Spirit is primarily a South Indian production with pan-India ambitions.
Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga, known for his intense storytelling style (Arjun Reddy, Kabir Singh, Animal), reportedly felt Deepika’s requests could affect the film’s authenticity and flow. Following her withdrawal, Vanga took to X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram to post cryptic messages criticizing an unnamed actor for “playing dirty PR games.” Though he didn’t mention her directly, the posts came right after Deepika’s reported exit, leading many to connect the dots.
Industry insiders are divided over the issue. While some believe that Deepika was being overly demanding and interfering with the director’s creative freedom, others argue that she was right to set professional boundaries, especially considering her stature and prior commitments—including her pregnancy and upcoming projects.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time a top actress has walked out of a Sandeep Reddy Vanga project. In the past, there have been similar reports of creative differences with female leads due to the intensity of his scripts and character arcs, which often walk a controversial line between passion and problematic representation.
As a replacement, actress Triptii Dimri—who rose to fame with Qala and gained massive popularity after Animal—has now been signed opposite Prabhas. The film remains on track and is expected to begin production by the end of 2025, with a possible release in 2026.
This incident has once again raised questions about working standards for female actors, creative liberty versus personal comfort, and how professionalism is often interpreted differently when women voice their concerns in the Indian film industry.
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