Deepika Padukone is reportedly out of ‘Spirit’, the upcoming film by Sandeep Reddy Vanga starring Prabhas. Though the paperwork was finalized, a fallout between the director and actress has led to her exit. Reliable sources say the issue began when Deepika refused to shoot for more than six hours a day.
The Reason
According to a report in Bollywood Hungama, Deepika’s agency also requested contract changes. They insisted she be paid extra if the shoot extended beyond 100 days. Things deteriorated when the actress is claimed to have wanted a large sum of money as well as a cut of the film’s profits. Furthermore, insiders believe she refused to deliver her dialogues in Telugu. The director was said to be shocked by these demands.
Vanga discussed the situation with his producer, hoping to resolve things. However, talks reportedly failed. Sources claim Deepika quoted between Rs 20 to Rs 40 crore for the project. For now, the search is on for a new female lead in ‘Spirit’.
The situation has sparked debate in the industry. Would such demands be considered unreasonable if made by a male actor? An old video of Deepika highlighting the issue is also going viral.
Exactly! Six years since that iconic statement and Deepika Padukone is still out here holding the damn line for herself and every woman who’s ever been told to “adjust” for the sake of a male-led project. https://t.co/v1ZbyHUjdW pic.twitter.com/2WBgHwrl75
— Dua Padukone (@Duapadukone) May 21, 2025