Deepika Padukone Demanded Rs 25-Cr, 10% Profit Cut For Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Spirit?

News18

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Deepika Padukone reportedly demanded ₹25 cr, 10% profit cut and refused to mouth Telugu dialogues for Spirit, claims a source.
Last month, Deepika Padukone's exit from Sandeep Reddy Vanga's upcoming film Spirit grabbed a lot of attention. Reportedly, her demands – an 8-hour-working shift, a profit cut sharing and a ballpark remuneration of Rs 20 crore – didn't sit well with the makers, which led her being ousted from the Prabhas starrer. In reaction, Vanga took to X to share a cryptic post, allegedly pointing at Padukone and called her out for her 'dirty PR games', 'putting down a younger actor' and leaking key plot points from the story.
The row led to conversations surrounding sexism, working conditions and work hours, particularly for new mothers, with Mani Ratnam, Ajay Devgn and Saif Ali Khan defending her demands. Now, News18 Showsha has exclusively learnt the real reason that led the makers of Spirit to drop her from the film and replace her with Triptii Dimri. News18 reached out to Deepika Padukone's team for a comment, but they had not responded till the time this story was published.
'There seems to be a deliberate attempt to control the narrative," a source close to the development revealed to us, adding, 'The actress' perception team is struggling to come to terms with her replacement and is conveniently spinning her exit as a 'work-life balance' decision. But the reality is quite different."
According to the source, the real reasons behind the exit are far more practical and rooted in professional disagreements. 'The actor had reportedly demanded ₹25 crores 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 insider stated.
'Contrary to speculation, her restricted filming schedule of under 8 hours a day was never the primary issue. 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 emphasised.
Citing examples from the industry, the source pointed out that 'actors from south have learned Hindi to deliver their own dialogues'. 'It's about commitment. Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga believes actors speaking their own lines builds authenticity and emotional connect with the audience," the source remarked.
Clarifying about the rumour, the source continued, 'Also using this situation many are commenting on the work life balance without knowing the facts and understanding repercussions a production/director can face, this is not just misleading; it's unfair. This isn't about hours or schedules, it's about unreasonable demands, lack of adaptability, and unprofessional conduct."
On a related note, at a Cartier event in Stockholm event, Padukone's remarks grabbed attention, which according to netizens resonated with the ongoing controversy. 'Whenever I'm faced with complicated or difficult situations, to be able to listen to my inner voice and just stand by decisions that really give me a lot of peace is when I feel most in equilibrium,' she said.
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