New Delhi:
It has been over a 12 months since Deepika Padukone walked out of Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit. The controversy surrounding her exit resurfaced after Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s brother claimed the actress had demanded a ten per cent revenue share of the movie. One other replace has now emerged, with a detailed supply revealing why Deepika Padukone selected to not work with the filmmaker.
What’s Occurring
- A detailed supply informed Hindustan Instances, “Deepika Padukone has met Sandeep Reddy Vanga solely as soon as in her life. To not point out, the filmmaker arrived an entire hour late to the assembly! Deepika dealt with the remainder of the assembly professionally. In that assembly, solely a one-liner of the movie was shared. She did not obtain a full narration of the movie. Deepika by no means commits to a challenge with out receiving a full narration. So, Spirit was by no means a part of Deepika’s consideration set to start with.”
- The supply continued, “Sandeep Reddy Vanga is the form of filmmaker Deepika Padukone would by no means collaborate with, given his misogynist nature – one that’s evident not solely in his off-screen persona however in his motion pictures too.”
Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Brother’s Claims
In an interview with NTV, Pranay spoke concerning the resolution to interchange Deepika within the Prabhas-led movie.
He stated the discussions concerned a number of elements, together with the actor’s remuneration and dealing hours.
“The reason being the identical as what was already talked about. One was remuneration, the second was timing. Aside from that, there are another causes too,” Pranay stated.
In line with Pranay, the ultimate name to maneuver forward with out Deepika was taken by Sandeep. He claimed that the filmmaker had been in conversations with the actress for about 18 months and needed her to play a component in Spirit.
Pranay additionally hinted that Deepika’s latest box-office success had strengthened her place throughout negotiations.
‘Deepika Demanded 10 Per Cent Of Movie’s Revenue’
Pranay alleged that the discussions went past negotiations over her performing payment. In line with him, Deepika sought a share of the movie’s earnings.
He shared, “She demanded 10 per cent of the movie’s revenue. Quickly after, all the things went overboard. See, she will be able to ask for something. If we’re prepared to present, we can provide. However the economics (price range) 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 all the things.”
“We mentioned the story and character along with her. Issues mentioned internally shouldn’t be revealed, however she leaked all of them. That’s the reason we’re disturbed,” he stated.
He additionally clarified that, in response to his model of occasions, the disagreement was not merely about a further Rs 5-6 crore being sought as remuneration.
The Spirit Row
Deepika’s exit from Spirit had earlier triggered appreciable dialogue, significantly round reviews that she had requested for an eight-hour workday. Triptii Dimri was subsequently introduced as her alternative reverse Prabhas.
The controversy intensified after reviews emerged concerning the movie’s plot and an alleged ‘A-Rated Motion’ component.
Sandeep later expressed his displeasure on X with out naming the individual he was referring to. He claimed that particulars he had mentioned with an actor in confidence had been disclosed publicly.
“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’ve got ‘DISCLOSED’ the individual that you’re…”
He additional wrote, “Placing down a Youthful actor and ousting my story? Is that this what your feminism stands for? As a filmmaker, I put years of onerous work behind my craft & for me, filmmaking is all the things. You did not get it. You will not get it. You’ll by no means get it.”
Sandeep concluded the publish by writing, “Aisa karo…. Agli baar poori kahani bolna… kyunki mujhe jarra bhi farak nahi padtha (Subsequent time, inform them the entire story as a result of I do not actually care.)”
He additionally quoted the saying, “Khundak mein billi khamba noche.” and used the hashtag “Soiled PR Video games”.
The 8-Hour Work Shift Debate
Deepika has beforehand spoken concerning the wider dialogue round her working situations, though she has not addressed each declare linked to her departure from Spirit.
Talking to CNBC-TV18 in 2025, the actor stated, “I’m somebody who has at all times fought my battles silently, and for some unusual purpose, generally they grow to be public-which is just not the way in which I do know and never the way in which I have been introduced up. To battle my battles silently and in a dignified approach is the way in which I do know.”
In an earlier dialog with Brut India, Deepika defended her reported request for an eight-hour shift and stated she didn’t think about it unreasonable.
“I do not assume what I’m asking for is ridiculously unfair and I believe solely somebody who has labored within the system sufficient will know the situations that we work in. And I’m saying this, if I’ll say so myself, a prime star, so you’ll be able to solely think about what the working situations have to be like for everybody else, for the crew, for instance,” she stated.
She additionally identified that related working hours have been adopted by male actors.
“I’m not the primary one who has requested for one thing like this. Actually, there are quite a lot of actors, male actors, who’ve been engaged on a 8-hour shift for years and it is by no means made headlines,” she stated.
Spirit, directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga and starring Prabhas and Triptii Dimri, is scheduled to launch in March 2027.
