Producer says Deepika Padukone demanded 10% profit share for Spirit

Pranay Reddy Vanga, brother of director Sandeep Reddy Vanga, has said Deepika Padukone demanded 10% of the profits from the film Spirit, which led to her exit from the project. In an interview with NTV Telugu, Pranay said the actress asked for a profit share in addition to her acting fee, and that the makers felt the financial terms did not work for the budget. He also alleged that after the makers started looking at other actresses, details about the film's story and Deepika's character were leaked by her team.

Pranay said talks with Deepika went on for nearly 18 months. He clarified the disagreement was not merely about an additional Rs 5-6 crore in remuneration. Deepika was ultimately replaced by Triptii Dimri. Sandeep Reddy Vanga had earlier posted a cryptic message on X in May 2025, hinting at a breach of trust. The film, starring Prabhas and Triptii Dimri, is scheduled for release on March 5, 2027.