- Thursday, May 22, 2025
Deepika Padukone has reportedly opted out of the much-anticipated pan-India film Spirit due to disagreements over work hours, fees, and language demands. The film, starring Prabhas, is now searching for a new female lead.
By: Vibhuti Pathak
Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone has reportedly stepped away from the highly anticipated pan-India film Spirit, directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga and starring Prabhas.
The film had been generating buzz ever since speculation began about Deepika playing the female lead opposite the pan-India superstar. However, new reports suggest that the actress has exited the project due to ongoing creative and contractual disagreements.
According to a report by Gulte, Deepika was initially on board for Spirit and was set to receive her career’s highest paycheck — an estimated $2.4 million. The deal also reportedly included a share in the film’s profits, making it one of the most lucrative projects of her career.
However, it appears that the collaboration fell apart over what insiders have described as “unprofessional demands.”
Sources claimed that the primary issue stemmed from Deepika’s strict work schedule requests. She allegedly insisted on an 8-hour workday, out of which only 6 hours would be dedicated to shooting. Additionally, she was reluctant to deliver her dialogues in Telugu, despite Spirit being a multilingual project aimed at a pan-India audience.
These conditions reportedly frustrated director Sandeep Reddy Vanga, best known for Arjun Reddy and Animal, who found it challenging to accommodate such demands in a project of Spirit’s scale and intensity. Tensions escalated when the actress insisted on both a hefty upfront fee and a percentage of the profits, which the makers reportedly found difficult to agree upon.
The film’s production has already seen delays, allegedly due to Deepika’s pregnancy in late 2024. Though she had initially turned down the role due to scheduling conflicts, the filmmakers had reportedly offered revised dates to accommodate her, after which she agreed to come on board. Unfortunately, these compromises did not lead to a long-term resolution.
As a result of the ongoing disagreements, Deepika has now reportedly been dropped from the film. The makers have already begun searching for a suitable replacement, though no official announcements have been made yet. Both Deepika and Sandeep Reddy Vanga have not publicly commented on the reports at the time of writing.
Meanwhile, Deepika was last seen in the blockbuster Kalki 2898 AD and has since taken a short break from acting to focus on motherhood. She welcomed her daughter, Dua Padukone Singh, with husband Ranveer Singh in September 2024.
Spirit remains one of the most awaited films due to its massive scale and the collaboration between Sandeep Reddy Vanga and Prabhas. Fans now await an official update on the film’s new female lead.
