Deepika Padukone’s exit from Prabhas-starrer Spirit continues to remain a talking point, with producer Pranay Reddy Vanga now shedding more light on the reasons behind the casting change. According to his latest comments, remuneration and scheduling were among the key issues, while reports have also suggested that Padukone sought a share of the film’s profits.
The much-awaited Spirit, starring Prabhas and directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, has undergone a significant casting change after Deepika Padukone exited the project. While the actress’s reported demand for an eight-hour working schedule had previously dominated discussions, producer Pranay Reddy Vanga has indicated that the situation involved several factors.
According to Vanga, negotiations between the makers and Padukone continued for around a year and a half. Despite Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s interest in having her headline the project, the two sides eventually failed to reach an agreement.
Remuneration and scheduling were key issues
Speaking about Padukone’s departure, Pranay Reddy Vanga said the disagreement was not limited to one particular demand.
“The reason is the same as what was already mentioned. One was remuneration, the second was timing. Apart from that, there are some other reasons too,” he said.
His comments suggest that the decision followed prolonged discussions involving both the financial structure of the film and the actress’s availability.
The remuneration issue reportedly went beyond simply increasing Padukone’s acting fee. Reports surrounding the development have claimed that she sought a 10% share of the film’s profits, rather than negotiating solely on the basis of a fixed remuneration.
However, the producer’s comments indicate that the makers were looking at the economics of the entire project before agreeing to such terms.
Why the profit-sharing demand became complicated
A profit-sharing arrangement can significantly alter the financial structure of a large-scale film. Unlike a conventional acting fee, a percentage of profits potentially links an actor’s compensation to the movie’s eventual commercial performance.
In the case of Spirit, Vanga indicated that the proposed terms did not fit comfortably within the film’s overall budget.
The producer stressed that the disagreement was not simply about adding a few crore rupees to Padukone’s fee. Instead, the discussion involved the broader economics of the project.
This distinction is important because reports around celebrity casting negotiations can sometimes reduce complicated contracts to a single headline figure. Vanga’s explanation suggests that the disagreement involved multiple commercial and logistical considerations.
Eight-hour workday controversy
Before the producer’s latest comments, much of the discussion surrounding Padukone’s exit centred on reports that she had requested an eight-hour workday.
Scheduling has become an increasingly important issue for major film productions, particularly those involving actors with multiple commitments. A large-scale production such as Spirit requires considerable coordination between the cast, director, technicians and production team.
Vanga has now confirmed that timing was one of the issues involved in the discussions, although he did not suggest that it was the sole reason for Padukone’s departure.
Producer also raises concerns over leaked information
Another issue raised by Pranay Reddy Vanga concerned information about the project allegedly becoming public while the team was considering alternative actresses.
According to the producer, details about the film and Padukone’s character began surfacing after discussions about replacement casting started.
The development has revived attention around a cryptic post shared by Sandeep Reddy Vanga in May 2025. At the time, the filmmaker appeared to express disappointment over what he described as a breach of trust involving confidential information.
He had suggested that filmmakers and actors operate with an implicit understanding that sensitive project details should remain confidential, even when a formal non-disclosure agreement may not be publicly discussed.
The comments have subsequently been viewed in the context of the Spirit casting controversy, although the precise circumstances behind any alleged leak have not been publicly established in full.
Triptii Dimri replaces Deepika Padukone
Following Padukone’s exit, Triptii Dimri was brought on board as the female lead opposite Prabhas.
Dimri already has a professional association with Sandeep Reddy Vanga after appearing in his 2023 film Animal. Her casting therefore reunites the filmmaker and actress on another major project.
The actress expressed her gratitude for the opportunity after being associated with Spirit, while the casting change has generated considerable interest among fans.
The pairing of Prabhas and Triptii is now expected to be one of the film’s major attractions.
What is ‘Spirit’ about?
Details of the story remain closely guarded, but Spirit is being positioned as a major action-oriented project led by Prabhas.
Sandeep Reddy Vanga, known for Arjun Reddy, Kabir Singh and Animal, is directing the film. The project is expected to be mounted on a substantial scale and released across multiple languages.
The cast reportedly includes Vivek Oberoi and Aishwarya Desai, adding further interest to the ensemble.
With Prabhas at the centre and Vanga returning with another intense project, Spirit remains one of the more closely watched upcoming Indian films.
Deepika Padukone moves on to other projects
Despite her exit from Spirit, Deepika Padukone continues to have several major projects in her professional pipeline.
The actress is associated with Raaka, in which she is set to work with Allu Arjun. Her departure from Spirit therefore does not signal any slowdown in her career, with the actress continuing to be one of the most sought-after stars in Indian cinema.
The Spirit episode instead highlights how negotiations surrounding major films can involve several layers, including remuneration, profit participation, scheduling, production economics and confidentiality.
‘Spirit’ release date
Directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga and starring Prabhas, Spirit is scheduled to release in cinemas on March 5, 2027, subject to any future changes announced by the makers.
With Triptii Dimri now replacing Deepika Padukone, attention will remain firmly on how the new casting shapes the film and whether the controversy surrounding its earlier negotiations will eventually fade once production and promotional activities begin.
