It was in April 2025 that Deepika Padukone determined to not be part of Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit. It’s August 2026, and by some means, we’re nonetheless speaking about it. The actor’s exit from the pan-India movie prompted an enormous uproar, with the filmmaker hurling allegations on social media and the business debating work hours for artistes. The row erupted as soon as once more this week when Pranay, the director’s brother, claimed one of many causes for Deepika’s exit was her demand for a revenue share. Now, Hindustan Instances has learnt the opposite model of occasions for the primary time, as a highly-placed supply near the developments has knowledgeable us why the actor selected to not do the movie.
‘Deepika by no means commits to a movie with out full narration’
Hindustan Instances reached out to a supply near the developments, who shared, “Deepika Padukone has met Sandeep Reddy Vanga all of as soon as in her life. To not point out, the filmmaker arrived a complete hour late to the assembly! Deepika 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. Deepika by no means commits to a undertaking with out receiving a full narration. So, Spirit was by no means part of Deepika’s consideration set to start with.”
‘She would by no means collaborate with him’
The supply added that Deepika has no inclination to work with the filmmaker: “Sandeep Reddy Vanga is the form of filmmaker Deepika Padukone would by no means collaborate with, given his misogynist nature: one that’s enormously evident not solely in his off-screen persona however in his films too.”
The drama round Deepika’s exit from Spirit
Deepika Padukone was in talks with Sandeep Reddy Vanga for his Prabhas-starrer Spirit final 12 months. However in April, it emerged that the actor had exited the undertaking. The actor reportedly requested for a hard and fast 8-hour workday as a brand new mom, a requirement that was not met by the movie’s manufacturing. The makers of Kalki 2898 AD additionally introduced her exit from the sequel by way of a put up on X, sparking on-line debate about professionalism, work-hour limits, and remuneration in high-budget initiatives.
After stories emerged that Triptii Dimri can be changing Deepika, it was claimed that Deepika left the movie as a result of she was uncomfortable with sure intimate scenes. At this level, director Sandeep Reddy Vanga shared an offended message on Twitter seemingly directed at Deepika. “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?” he wrote in Could 2025.
The controversy erupted once more this previous week after Pranay, Sandeep’s brother, claimed that one of many causes for Deepika’s exit was her demand for 10% revenue share within the movie. Talking with NTV Telugu, Pranay Reddy Vanga added, “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, the whole lot went overboard. See, she will be able to ask for something. If we’re prepared to provide, we can provide. However the economics also needs to work out for us. We thought that it was not working. Because of this we considered different choices. As soon as we began searching for different choices, they began leaking the whole lot.”
On Friday, Deepika preferred a put up on Instagram that known as out Sandeep and Pranay for his or her stance, which praised the actor for asking for ‘what males routinely get’ within the business.
All about Spirit and Deepika’s new initiatives
Triptii ultimately was solid because the movie’s feminine lead reverse Prabhas. The primary look that includes the 2 actors was launched on New Yr’s Day 2026. The movie additionally stars Vivek Oberoi within the lead function, and is slated to launch on March 5, 2027. Deepika, then again, has two initiatives lined up. She is going to reunite with Shah Rukh Khan in King, slated to launch in December. This shall be adopted by Atlee’s Raaka reverse Allu Arjun, which releases subsequent 12 months.
