Deepika Padukone’s sudden departure from Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s highly anticipated film ‘Spirit’, starring Prabhas, sparked a flurry of speculation last month. The buzz began when reports suggested that the actress had demanded an 8-hour workday, a profit-sharing clause, and remuneration to the tune of Rs 20 crore, which was not acceptable to the makers.New reports now claim that the issue escalated when Deepika asked for Rs 25 crore and a 10 per cent profit share.Deepika demanded Rs 25 crore and a 10 per cent profit shareAccording to News18, a source close to the production revealed that Deepika’s team is struggling to come to terms with her replacement and is conveniently spinning her exit as a “work-life balance” decision. “The actor had reportedly demanded Rs 25 crore for approximately 35 days of shoot, along with a 10% profit share, extensive entourage expenses, and even expressed unwillingness to deliver dialogues in Telugu — something the director felt strongly about. To top it off, confidential plot details from Spirit were allegedly leaked, which raised serious concerns among the producers,” the source revealed.
Deepika’s 8 hour workday demand was never an issueThe source further added that Deepika’s 8-hour workdays were not a sticking point, although it has now gained attention. “In filmmaking, working hours are fluid and depend on location, lighting, and various technical factors. You could shoot for 2 hours or 8, depending on the scene. What truly matters is flexibility, collaboration, and respect for the craft,” the source added.Refused to deliver dialogue in TeluguThe question of dialogue delivery also became a point of contention. Sandeep Reddy Vanga reportedly places high value on actors delivering their own lines to preserve the emotional integrity of a scene.The insider also criticised the wider narrative being shaped in the media around work-life balance without knowing the facts. They called it unfair, as it fails to understand the repercussions a production or director can face. “It’s about unreasonable demands, lack of adaptability, and unprofessional conduct,” they stated.Triptii Dimri‘s entryFollowing Deepika’s unexpected exit, Sandeep announced Triptii Dimri as the new leading lady of Spirit. He also shared a cryptic note on his social media, calling out the integrity of “feminism” and “dirty PR games.”
