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Deepika Padukone Exits Prabhas` Spirit Over Clashing Demands With the Filmmaker
Updated on: 22 May, 2025 11:43 AM IST |Amruta Karulkar
Deepika Padukone and Sandeep Reddy Vanga
The buzz in the movie industry is palpable as reports suggest that Deepika Padukone may no longer be a part of Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s highly anticipated film, Spirit, starring Prabhas. While fans eagerly awaited this collaboration, whispers from Telugu film circles indicate that clashes over Padukone`s demands led to her departure, igniting a fresh debate on industry norms and pay parity.
These demands allegedly caused friction with director Sandeep Reddy Vanga, known for blockbusters like Kabir Singh and Animal, leading to the decision to seek a replacement for the female lead. Earlier, delays in the film`s schedule were attributed to Padukone`s pregnancy, but it was believed she had re-signed after revised dates were proposed.
Also Read: Deepika Padukone and Megastar Chiranjeevi: Is a Colossal Collaboration Brewing?
She elaborated on turning down a project where her fee was compromised to accommodate the male actor’s higher charge, despite his films not performing as well as hers. Deepika asserted, “I said, ‘Okay, this is what I would charge.’ It kind of went back and forth where he came back and said, ‘You know, actually, we won’t be able to afford this because we have to accommodate the male, you know.’ I said, Okay, then, goodbye, because I know my track record. I know what I’m worth. I know that his films haven’t been doing as well as my films have been doing."
She concluded, “It made absolutely no sense. So, I was okay to say no to that film based on that one thing because I just thought it was unfair... I don’t think I’d be able to live with that sort of thought, knowing that I’ve been a part of a film, had the same sort of creative contribution or bringing the same sort of value to a film but being underpaid. I was not okay with that." This six-year-old statement now resonates strongly with the current situation surrounding Spirit.
Also Read: Deepika Padukone Talks About Motherhood, Pregnancy Complications, And Naming Dua
While neither Deepika Padukone nor Sandeep Reddy Vanga has officially commented on her alleged exit, the reports have certainly stirred discussion. The demands, if true, highlight ongoing questions about what is considered reasonable for a leading female superstar, especially when compared to their male counterparts. Some industry observers point out that similar, or even greater, demands from male actors are often seen as standard business practice.
As Deepika Padukone enjoys recent successes with Jawan and Kalki 2898 AD, the controversy surrounding Spirit underscores the persistent complexities of remuneration, working conditions, and gender dynamics in the Indian film industry.
Alleged Demands and Departure
According to multiple Telugu entertainment outlets, Deepika Padukone was reportedly dropped from Spirit due to what insiders termed "unprofessional" demands. These allegedly included a strict 8-hour workday, which would translate to about 6 hours of actual shooting. Furthermore, it`s reported she requested a hefty remuneration of Rs 20 crore, her highest to date, along with a percentage of the film’s profits. Another contentious point was her purported refusal to deliver dialogues in Telugu.These demands allegedly caused friction with director Sandeep Reddy Vanga, known for blockbusters like Kabir Singh and Animal, leading to the decision to seek a replacement for the female lead. Earlier, delays in the film`s schedule were attributed to Padukone`s pregnancy, but it was believed she had re-signed after revised dates were proposed.
Also Read: Deepika Padukone and Megastar Chiranjeevi: Is a Colossal Collaboration Brewing?
Padukone on Pay Parity
Amidst these developments, an old video of Deepika Padukone discussing pay disparity has resurfaced, with fans rallying in her defence. In the clip, Deepika stated, “For myself, I think I have been able to bridge that gap in terms of what my male contemporaries are getting versus what I’m getting paid. There was a recent incident when a director offered us a film… Creatively, I liked it. Then it came to talking about the monies."She elaborated on turning down a project where her fee was compromised to accommodate the male actor’s higher charge, despite his films not performing as well as hers. Deepika asserted, “I said, ‘Okay, this is what I would charge.’ It kind of went back and forth where he came back and said, ‘You know, actually, we won’t be able to afford this because we have to accommodate the male, you know.’ I said, Okay, then, goodbye, because I know my track record. I know what I’m worth. I know that his films haven’t been doing as well as my films have been doing."
She concluded, “It made absolutely no sense. So, I was okay to say no to that film based on that one thing because I just thought it was unfair... I don’t think I’d be able to live with that sort of thought, knowing that I’ve been a part of a film, had the same sort of creative contribution or bringing the same sort of value to a film but being underpaid. I was not okay with that." This six-year-old statement now resonates strongly with the current situation surrounding Spirit.
Also Read: Deepika Padukone Talks About Motherhood, Pregnancy Complications, And Naming Dua
While neither Deepika Padukone nor Sandeep Reddy Vanga has officially commented on her alleged exit, the reports have certainly stirred discussion. The demands, if true, highlight ongoing questions about what is considered reasonable for a leading female superstar, especially when compared to their male counterparts. Some industry observers point out that similar, or even greater, demands from male actors are often seen as standard business practice.
As Deepika Padukone enjoys recent successes with Jawan and Kalki 2898 AD, the controversy surrounding Spirit underscores the persistent complexities of remuneration, working conditions, and gender dynamics in the Indian film industry.
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