Deepika Padukone out of Spirit? Demand clash revealed

Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga, acclaimed for his work on Kabir Singh and Animal, is in the process of creating his next film Spirit, with Prabhas set to play the lead role. Latest updates indicate that Deepika Padukone has parted ways with the project. It is believed that her exit stemmed from a set of demands considered unprofessional, including a capped work schedule of 8 hours—translating to roughly 6 hours of actual shooting—a lucrative fee of ₹20 crore—her most substantial to date—along with a portion of the film’s profits, and an objection to performing her dialogues in Telugu, which was an essential prerequisite for the role. These complications reportedly caused growing friction, leading Vanga to part ways with the actress.

Deepika initially stepped away from Spirit due to scheduling conflicts linked to her pregnancy, but after the shoot faced delays, she is said to have rejoined the film. At this time, neither Deepika nor Vanga has issued an official comment about her departure. This news has attracted widespread attention, considering the film’s stature and Deepika’s recent successes like Jawan and Kalki 2898 AD. She is currently expecting her first child with husband Ranveer Singh and is actively working on several prominent projects, including the follow-up to Kalki 2898 AD and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love & War, and Shah Rukh Khan’s eagerly awaited film King.