Deepika Padukone stepped away from Sandeep Reddy Vanga‘s ‘Spirit’ again in April 2025. Her departure from the pan-India mission had sparked large controversy on the time, with the filmmaker making allegations on social media and the trade partaking in a broader debate over actors’ working hours. The controversy resurfaced this week after Pranay, the director’s brother, claimed that one of many causes behind Deepika’s exit was her alleged demand for a share within the movie’s income.
Deepika Padukone met Sandeep Reddy Vanga solely as soon as
In keeping with Hindustan Instances, Deepika met Sandeep solely as soon as in her life and the filmmaker arrived a complete hour late to the assembly. The actress took the remainder of the assembly professionally. Within the assembly, solely a one-liner of the movie was shared. She didn’t obtain a full narration of the movie. Furthermore, the report additionally talked about that Deepika by no means commits to a mission with out receiving a full narration. So, ‘Spirit’ was by no means part of Deepika’s consideration set to start with. Sandeep is the sort of filmmaker Deepika would by no means collaborate with, given his misogynist nature: one that’s significantly evident not solely in his off-screen persona however in his films too.
Deepika Padukone’s demand for fastened work hours
Final 12 months, Deepika had been in discussions with Sandeep for ‘Spirit’, his Prabhas-starrer mission. Nonetheless, it got here to gentle in April that she had walked away from the movie. Experiences instructed that the actor, as a brand new mom, had requested a hard and fast eight-hour workday, a requirement the manufacturing reportedly didn’t comply with. Across the similar time, the makers of ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ additionally introduced her exit from the sequel by way of a submit on X, triggering widespread discussions on-line round professionalism, work-hour boundaries, and pay buildings in big-budget movies.
Deepika Padukone faces backlash from Sandeep Reddy Vanga
Following experiences that Triptii Dimri would step in as Deepika’s alternative, claims surfaced suggesting that Deepika had exited the movie on account of discomfort with sure intimate scenes. Reacting to this, director Sandeep posted an offended message on Twitter, seemingly geared toward Deepika. In Might 2025, he wrote, “After I narrate a narrative to an actor, I place 100% religion. There may be an unsaid NDA (Non-Disclosure Settlement) between us. However by doing this, you have ‘DISCLOSED’ the individual that you’re…. Placing down a Youthful actor and ousting my story? Is that this what your feminism stands for?”.
Deepika Padukone’s alleged demand for revenue share
The controversy resurfaced this previous week when Pranay, Sandeep’s brother, claimed that Deepika’s exit was partly pushed by her demand for a ten% revenue share within the movie. In an interplay with NTV Telugu, Pranay Reddy, “The reason being the identical as what was already talked about. One was remuneration, the second was timing. Other than that, there are another causes, too. Quickly after, all the pieces went overboard. See, she will ask for something. If we’re keen to present, we may give. However the economics must also work out for us. We thought that it was not working. Because of this we considered different choices. As soon as we began in search of different choices, they began leaking all the pieces.”
Deepika Padukone’s response to the backlash
On Friday, Deepika appreciated an Instagram submit that pushed again towards Sandeep and Pranay’s feedback, applauding her for demanding ‘what males routinely get’ inside the trade.
Deepika Padukone’s upcoming initiatives
In the meantime, Triptii landed the movie’s feminine lead position alongside Prabhas, with their first look unveiled on New 12 months’s Day 2026. The solid additionally contains Vivek Oberoi in a lead half, and the movie is scheduled to hit screens on March 5, 2027. As for Deepika, she has two upcoming releases lined up, ‘King’, which reunites her with Shah Rukh Khan and is about for a December launch, and Atlee’s ‘Raaka’ reverse Allu Arjun, releasing subsequent 12 months.
