Filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga appears to have taken a sharp dig at actress Deepika Padukone following her exit from his upcoming film Spirit, starring Prabhas.
On Monday night, Vanga shared a cryptic message on his X (formerly Twitter) account that, although not naming Deepika directly, strongly implied frustration over what he described as betrayal and manipulation.
“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, expressing both disappointment and anger.
The controversy comes shortly after reports claimed that Deepika Padukone had been removed from Spirit. The decision reportedly stemmed from disagreements over work conditions. Deepika, who recently became a mother, was said to be requesting shorter working hours, a higher remuneration, and a share in the film’s profits—demands that allegedly clashed with Vanga’s expectations. Though no official confirmation has been made about the exact cause, the fallout has clearly left tensions simmering.
The role that was initially intended for Deepika will now be taken up by Triptii Dimri. The actress confirmed her involvement on Saturday, sharing her excitement on social media along with an image of the film’s title poster displayed in several Indian and international languages. “Still sinking in… So grateful to be trusted with this journey. Thank you @sandeepreddy.vanga… Honoured to be a part of your vision,” she wrote, marking a significant milestone in her career.
