Shivani
Deepika Padukone’s exit from Spirit has resurfaced in the spotlight after filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s brother, Pranay Reddy Vanga, made fresh claims about her alleged demands. The disagreement reportedly involved an eight-hour workday requirement, along with a request for a 10 per cent share of profits. Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone’s exit from Sandeep Reddy Vanga and Prabhas’ Spirit created a major controversy in the South film industry. Reports claimed that the actress was removed from the project after requesting an eight-hour work shift. At the time, Deepika was a new mother and reportedly wanted to balance her professional commitments with motherhood responsibilities.
Soon, several other rumours about her alleged demands surfaced online, sparking divided opinions among fans and industry insiders. Amid the ongoing debate, director Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s brother, Pranay Reddy Vanga, has now made some fresh claims about the controversial development surrounding the much-discussed project.
Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Brother On Deepika Padukone’s Spirit Exit
In a recent interview, Pranay Reddy Vanga alleged that filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga removed Deepika Padukone from Spirit after she sought a 10 per cent share of the film’s profits. He further claimed that the actress had also “leaked” details about the project to others. He said in an interview with NTV, “The reason is the same as what was already mentioned. One was remuneration, the second was timing. Apart from that, there are some other reasons too.”
Pranay further claimed that removing Deepika from the Prabhas-starrer was entirely the filmmaker’s decision. He said Sandeep had remained in touch with the Pathaan actress for nearly 18 months and wanted her on board. However, Pranay alleged that Deepika’s successful track record gave her greater bargaining power, allowing her to make more demands during the project’s development.
Deepika Padukone Demanded Share In Spirit Profit
He stated: “She demanded 10 per cent from the film’s profit. Soon after, everything went overboard. See, she can ask for anything. If we are willing to give, we can give. But the economics (budget) should also work out for us. We thought that it was not working. This is why we thought of other options. Once we started looking for other options, they started leaking everything.”
He further claimed that the team had spent over a year discussing the story and Padukone’s character with her. He expressed disappointment that details discussed internally were allegedly revealed, saying he felt trust was breached. “We discussed the story and character with her. Things discussed internally should not be revealed but she leaked all of them. That is why we are disturbed.” He stated that the issue was never about paying the actress an additional Rs 5–6 crore.
Last year, Deepika addressed the controversy, asking why actresses could not demand eight-hour shifts when male superstars in the Indian film industry could work similar hours on weekdays. Meanwhile, she has been replaced by Triptii Dimri in *Spirit*. The film is scheduled to hit theatres in March next year.