Producer Reveals Reasons Behind Deepika Padukone's Exit From Prabhas-fronted 'Spirit'

Mumbai, August 20 - Deepika Padukone's exit from Prabhas and Sandeep Reddy Vanga's much-awaited Spirit had sparked considerable speculation, with reports pointing to disagreements over remuneration, working hours and other contractual conditions. Now, producer Pranay Reddy Vanga, Sandeep Reddy Vanga's brother, has revealed the reason behind the casting change.

According to Pranay Reddy Vanga (via Gulte.com), Deepika had been associated with the project for more than a year and had shown strong interest in the script and her character. However, the discussions eventually moved beyond the creative aspects, with disagreements emerging over the commercial and practical terms of her involvement in the film.

Pranay reportedly claimed that Deepika's team sought a 10% share in the film's profits, over and above her remuneration. There were also differences regarding the shooting schedule and working hours. Given the scale of Spirit and its extensive production requirements, the makers and the actress were unable to reach an agreement, eventually resulting in her exit from the Prabhas-led film.

Following Deepika's departure, Triptii Dimri was brought on board as the female lead. The casting change had already triggered a major debate in the industry, particularly after Sandeep Reddy Vanga appeared to criticise the situation through a cryptic social-media post. At the time, several reports had also cited demands related to limited working hours, remuneration and profit-sharing.

It is important to note that the 10% profit-share claim is based on Pranay Reddy Vanga's latest account, and Deepika Padukone has not publicly confirmed this particular version of events. Nevertheless, the producer's comments provide the clearest explanation yet from the Spirit camp about why the actress ultimately parted ways with the Prabhas starrer. The film is currently in production for a March 2027 release.