'Multiple things' led to Deepika's exit: Sandeep Reddy's brother on 'Spirit' controversy

Deepika Padukone's sudden exit from Sandeep Reddy Vanga's upcoming film Spirit has ignited a fresh wave of controversy surrounding the production. The decision to replace Padukone with Triptii Dimri has been attributed to several factors, including remuneration disputes, scheduling issues, and other undisclosed reasons, as revealed by Sandeep's brother Pranay Reddy Vanga, who is also a producer on the project.

According to Pranay, Sandeep had been actively seeking Deepika's involvement in the Prabhas-starrer for nearly a year and a half. He pointed out that the actress, having recently enjoyed a successful run at the box office, was in a position to negotiate higher remuneration and other terms. However, when the proposed 10% profit share was demanded by Padukone, Sandeep and his team found it difficult to justify both the economics of the project and the additional financial commitment.

Pranay alleged that once the decision was made to explore alternative options, sensitive details regarding the film's story and Padukone's character were leaked to the public. The team had spent over a year developing the narrative and discussing Padukone's role with the actress, only for those discussions to be exposed prematurely. This breach of confidentiality contributed to the growing discontent within the production.

Despite being willing to pay Deepika an additional Rs 5–6 crore, the filmmakers expressed their dissatisfaction with the overall economics and terms of the project. The controversy surrounding Padukone's exit has been fueled by her highly publicized demand for an eight-hour working schedule, highlighting the ongoing debate about equitable treatment of female actors in the industry. Spirit is set to release in theaters in March 2027.