Filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga has taken to social media to seemingly criticize Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone following her abrupt exit from his upcoming film Spirit, which stars Prabhas in the lead role. Although he did not mention Deepika Padukone by name, his cryptic post on X (formerly Twitter) strongly hinted at her involvement in what he called “dirty PR games.”
Sandeep Reddy Vanga Calls Out ‘Dirty PR Games’
Late Monday night, Sandeep Reddy Vanga posted an emotionally charged message accusing an unnamed actress of breaking the unwritten trust between a director and an actor. He suggested that she had revealed parts of the story and undermined another actor.
“When I narrate a story to an actor, I place 100% faith. There is an unsaid NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement) between us. But by doing this, you’ve ‘DISCLOSED’ the person that you are… Putting down a younger actor and ousting my story? Is this what your feminism stands for? As a filmmaker, I put years of hard work behind my craft & for me, filmmaking is everything. You didn’t get it. You won’t get it. You will never get it,” Vanga wrote.
He further added in Hindi:
“Aisa karo… Agli baar poori kahani bolna… kyunki mujhe jarra bhi farak nahi padtha. #dirtyPRgames. I like this kahawath very much 🙂 खुंदक में बिल्ली खंबा नोचे!”
Read Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s post on X here
Why Did Deepika Padukone Exit Spirit?
Initial reports indicated that Sandeep Reddy Vanga had removed Deepika Padukone from Spirit due to her demanding terms. Sources suggest the actress requested an eight-hour workday, a high remuneration package, and a share in the film’s profits—terms that allegedly didn’t sit well with the filmmaker.
Deepika, who recently embraced motherhood, is reportedly seeking a work-life balance by reducing her working hours. This may have contributed to her decision to step away from Spirit, a film that would have marked her second collaboration with Prabhas after Kalki 2898 AD.
Triptii Dimri Replaces Deepika Padukone in Spirit
In a swift casting update, Triptii Dimri has been confirmed as the new female lead in Spirit. The actress took to social media over the weekend to share the news, posting the film’s title poster in multiple languages.
“Still sinking in… So grateful to be trusted with this journey. Thank you @sandeepreddy.vanga… Honoured to be a part of your vision,” Triptii wrote.
Final Thoughts
The fallout between Sandeep Reddy Vanga and Deepika Padukone has sparked conversations in the film industry, especially around professionalism, confidentiality, and gender dynamics. As the controversy unfolds, all eyes are now on Spirit—both for its cinematic promise and its off-screen drama.