Sandeep Reddy Vanga slams Deepika Padukone for playing ‘dirty PR games’, ‘putting down a younger actor’ after being replaced by Triptii Dimri | Controversy explained 

Sandeep Reddy Vanga had reportedly cast Deepika Padukone in his film Spirit. However, she is said to have opted out of the film due to ‘creative differences’.

Is Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s angry post dedicated to Deepika Padukone? (Photo: Sandeep Reddy Vanga/Deepika/Instagram)

The Prabhas-starrer Spirit is making headlines for all the wrong reasons. After director Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s reported fallout with Deepika Padukone, the filmmaker has now shared a long note on X, questioning an unnamed person’s “professionalism” and criticising them for playing “dirty PR Games”. While Vanga hasn’t specified who he’s talking about, many have perceived his post in the context of recent events that have unfolded around Spirit. Deepika reportedly backed out of the movie, and was replaced by Triptii Dimri, who worked with Vanga on the film Animal.

What is the whole controversy about?

In 2023, when Spirit was first announced, there were speculations that Deepika Padukone, who was then shooting with Prabhas for Nag Ashwin’s Kalki 2898 AD, would also star against him. However, in the past few days, reports emerged claiming Deepika has opted out of Spirit due to several issues. It was reported that Deepika had asked for a hefty remuneration, and had laid down certain conditions around her work hours. She had also made a comment about a filmmaker questioning her priorities in the wake of her motherwood.

Soon after this, it was officially announced that Triptii Dimri, who last worked with Vanga in Animal, will be playing the lead in Spirit. Triptii confirmed her casting in a social media post, writing, “Still sinking in… so grateful to be trusted with this journey.”

On Monday, Pinkvilla shared an article revealing Prabhas’ cop drama will have an ‘A-Rated Action’ twist. So far, Vanga and team had maintained that it was a cop action thriller. There was no official mention of the rating that they were aiming for.

This has seemingly irked Vanga, who took to X to express his anger and frustration with the alleged leak of his film’s plot.

Taking to X, he wrote, “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…”

Without naming anybody, Vanga continued, “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.”

He concluded his note in Hindi, writing, “Aisa karo…. Agli baar poori kahani bolna… kyunki mujhe jarra bhi farak nahi padtha (Next time, tell them the complete story because I don’t really care.)” He concluded his post with, “I like this kahawath very much: Khundak mein billi khamba noche.” His note was accompanied by the hashtag, “Dirty PR Games”.

Spirit to be an ‘A-rated’ cop thriller

Pinkvilla cited a source as saying, “Sandeep Reddt Vanga wanted to cast an actress who would be comfortable with the sequences written on paper. He has promised a comfortable and professional atmosphere on the sets amidst the shoot to Triptii.”

According to Bollywood Hungama, Triptii will be seen playing the role of a doctor. A source told the publication, “Triptii Dimri plays the part of a hot doctor who falls in love with Prabhas.”

Deepika Padukone is yet to react to the claims and reports of her alleged fallout with the filmmaker.