The casting controversy surrounding Spirit, the upcoming Prabhas-starrer helmed by ‘Animal’ and ‘Arjun Reddy’ director Sandeep Reddy Vanga, has snowballed into a heated social media debate after Deepika Padukone’s sudden exit from the film and Triptii Dimri’s casting as the new leading lady.The row gained momentum on Monday night when Vanga took to his Twitter handle to allege a “dirty PR game” was being played in connection with the film. His cryptic but pointed post accused an unnamed actor of violating an “unsaid” Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), hinting at a breach of trust and a potential plot leak. The filmmaker wrote:“When I narrate a story to an actor, I place 100% faith. There is an unsaid NDA 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?”He went on to slam the disrespect towards his years of effort, ending the note with a jibe in Hindi, “Agli baar poori kahani bolna… kyunki mujhe jara bhi farak nahi padta. #dirtyPRgames”Though Vanga did not name Padukone directly, the timing of the post and the controversy surrounding her exit led many to interpret it as a veiled attack.News of Padukone’s exit came after reports suggested that the actress and new mom had put down a list of demands, including a huge Rs 20 crore paycheque while also asking for fixed working hours and a profit-sharing request. However, over the weekend, reports stated that she backed out of the film over her alleged discomfort with certain content in the script, details of which were reported on mere speculation.Following her exit, Vanga quickly announced Triptii Dimri as the new lead, with the announcement rolled out in nine languages across social media platforms.See more: Sandeep Reddy Vanga vs Deepika Padukone: Did ‘Spirit’ director UNFOLLOW actress following exit controversy and Triptii Dimri casting? The filmmaker’s post triggered a wave of mixed reactions, with some netizens hailing his ‘gutsy’ approach, while others accusing him of launching a targeted smear campaign against Padukone, suggesting his remarks stemmed from a ‘bruised ego’ rather than professional grievance.Several came to the director’s defence with one hailing him saying, “Sandeep Reddy Vanga replied to Deepika Padukone pr…. Gutsy man.”Pulling out contrasting news reports around DP’s role in the film, another said, “Pic 1 : when Deepika said yes to Vanga and Prabhas’s Spirit. her PR ‘she has a most well written part in spirit’ Pic 2 : When vanga Kicked her out. her PR ‘she said no because spirit was A rated’.”Another added, “This is what must’ve irritated vanga. He had certain requirements, she couldn’t meet those requirements. It’s alright, shit happens, move on. But these PR hits…terrible move. Deepika can’t fill theatres like Prabhas, hence she won’t the treated like him. It’s that simple.”However, the director also had to face the wrath of critics who slammed him for the way he handled the situation, saying, “So Vanga wanted an actress he could exploit and underpay??? Deepika Padukone you will always be THE superstar,” one user wrote.While Padukone has remained silent on the matter, her fans and Vanga critics have been vocal in her defence, noting how women in Indian cinema are often criticised for setting professional boundaries while male actors and directors seem to get their demands met. Another added, “Vanga and his PR have been attacking Deepika for days now, all because his ego couldn’t handle a woman making demands and rejecting his film.”Critics also questioned the gender dynamics at play, accusing Vanga of hypocrisy and double standards in the treatment of female actors. “Who if not Vanga will have a problem with a woman asking for fair treatment & pay? Directors make numerous adjustments for men, yet women are punished for being ‘difficult’,” one post read.Some called out the director for deliberately stoking controversy as a marketing strategy, “He always surrounds his films with controversy. His promotional campaign is basically ‘feminism is bad, bro.’”“He always makes sure each of his film is surrounded by some controversy bc bad publicity is still publicity,” another claimed.Still another hailed him for his decision to move on with a new star saying, “Bro waited Deepika’s dates for last 10 months. Bro rejected Deepika due to her demands. Came Straight up and announced Tripti as Heroine in 9 Languages.”Meanwhile, still others wondered about Prabhas’ reaction to the new controversy between Deepika and Vanga. Sharing memes, many guessed that the actor was far removed from all the drama and flaring tensions.‘Spirit’, directed by Vanga, is one of the most anticipated upcoming films due to its high-profile cast and the director’s last blockbuster, ‘Animal’ which scored over Rs 900 crore at the box office.
