The controversy surrounding Deepika Padukone’s exit from Spirit has returned to the spotlight after the actor appeared to support an Instagram post criticising filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga and the circumstances surrounding her departure from the much-awaited Prabhas-starrer.

Padukone’s apparent social media response comes days after fresh claims from Pranay Reddy Vanga, the producer of Spirit and brother of director Sandeep Reddy Vanga, regarding the negotiations that preceded the actor’s exit from the project.

The latest development has once again triggered debate over remuneration, profit-sharing arrangements, working hours and the different standards applied to male and female actors in the film industry.

Although Padukone has not issued a detailed public statement addressing the latest allegations, her decision to like the Instagram post has been widely interpreted as a show of support for its argument.

Deepika Likes Post Questioning Criticism of Her Demands

The Instagram post that Padukone liked discussed Pranay Reddy Vanga’s recent claim that the actor had sought a 10% share of Spirit’s profits.

The post questioned why a female actor asking for a percentage of a film’s earnings should become a major controversy when profit-sharing arrangements involving leading male actors have existed in the industry for years.

The post also suggested that the reaction to Padukone’s reported demands reflected a broader gender imbalance in Bollywood.

Padukone’s like quickly attracted attention because it came amid renewed discussion about her exit from Spirit. The social media interaction was particularly significant given that the actor has not directly engaged in an extended public exchange with Sandeep Reddy Vanga over the controversy.

Rather than releasing a lengthy statement, Padukone has seemingly allowed her social media activity to communicate her position on some aspects of the debate.

Pranay Reddy Vanga Makes Fresh Claims About Spirit Exit

The latest controversy began after Pranay Reddy Vanga discussed the circumstances surrounding Padukone’s departure from the film.

According to his account, the disagreement involved several issues rather than a single point of contention. These reportedly included remuneration, working schedules and a demand for a share of the film’s profits.

Pranay alleged that Padukone had sought a 10% share of the film’s profits during negotiations. He also claimed that the discussions involved demands related to her working schedule and that disagreements eventually made it difficult for the two sides to reach an agreement.

The producer further alleged that confidential information connected to the project was subsequently made public.

These claims represent the production side’s account of the dispute. Padukone has not publicly confirmed the allegations or provided a detailed response to the latest statements.

Working Hours Were Previously at the Centre of the Dispute

Before the latest profit-sharing claims emerged, reports surrounding Padukone’s departure had largely focused on working hours and remuneration.

The actor was reportedly seeking a fixed eight-hour working schedule. The issue became part of a much wider discussion about working conditions in the Indian film industry, where major productions can involve long and demanding shooting schedules.

Padukone’s reported position also generated discussion about whether leading actors should be able to negotiate fixed working hours as part of their contracts.

Supporters argued that an actor’s working schedule is a legitimate professional matter and that setting limits should not automatically be viewed as a lack of commitment to a film.

The debate also gained a gender dimension, with comparisons being drawn between the professional demands made by male stars and the scrutiny faced by female actors when they negotiate similar terms.

Sandeep Reddy Vanga Had Earlier Reacted to the Controversy

The disagreement surrounding Spirit had already become public soon after Padukone’s departure.

Sandeep Reddy Vanga had previously criticised what he described as the disclosure of confidential information related to the film. While he did not always name Padukone directly, his comments were widely understood to be connected to the controversy surrounding the project.

The director had expressed frustration over what he viewed as a breach of trust between a filmmaker and an actor during discussions about a film.

His comments generated a strong response on social media, with audiences divided over whether the filmmaker or the actor had handled the disagreement appropriately.

The dispute subsequently became larger than the original casting decision, with discussions shifting towards professionalism, gender equality, contractual negotiations and the treatment of women in the entertainment industry.

Triptii Dimri Replaced Deepika in Spirit

After Padukone’s departure, Triptii Dimri was brought on board as the female lead opposite Prabhas.

The casting change immediately attracted significant attention because Padukone had initially been linked to the project and was expected to share the screen with Prabhas.

Dimri’s involvement subsequently became official, allowing the production to move ahead with a revised cast.

The film is being directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga and stars Prabhas in the lead role. It is positioned as an action-oriented project and is among the most closely watched upcoming films involving a major Indian star and filmmaker.

The first-look material featuring Prabhas and Dimri also generated considerable interest online, further increasing expectations surrounding the project.

Why Deepika’s Like Has Become Significant

A social media like is not the same as an official statement, but Padukone’s latest activity has gained attention because of the timing.

Her interaction with the post came immediately after renewed allegations about her negotiations for Spirit. As a result, fans and industry observers have viewed it as an indirect response to the claims being made about her.

The post specifically challenged the criticism of a woman negotiating for a share in a film’s earnings and questioned whether similar demands by male stars would attract the same level of scrutiny.

Padukone’s decision to engage with that argument has therefore revived the gender-related aspect of the controversy.

However, there remains no detailed public statement from Padukone addressing every allegation made by the Spirit team. Her like should therefore be viewed as an indication of support for the viewpoint expressed in the post rather than a comprehensive response to the dispute.

Spirit Controversy Goes Beyond a Casting Change

What began as a disagreement surrounding the casting of Spirit has developed into a broader conversation about the working culture of the Indian film industry.

The controversy now involves several interconnected issues, including actors’ remuneration, profit-sharing arrangements, working hours, confidentiality and gender expectations.

For Padukone, the episode has also highlighted the scrutiny faced by established female actors when negotiating professional conditions.

For the Spirit team, the disagreement has raised questions about how negotiations involving major stars are handled and how confidential discussions become part of public discourse.

The competing accounts mean that several details surrounding Padukone’s departure remain disputed.

Prabhas and Triptii Dimri’s Film Continues Ahead

Despite the controversy surrounding its former female lead, Spirit has continued to move forward with Prabhas and Triptii Dimri.

The project remains one of the most anticipated upcoming films in Indian cinema, largely because of the combination of Prabhas’s massive popularity and Vanga’s track record of making highly discussed films.

The ongoing controversy is unlikely to disappear completely, particularly as new statements and social media reactions continue to bring the issue back into public discussion.

For now, Padukone has chosen not to make a detailed direct response. Her latest Instagram activity, however, has once again placed the disagreement firmly in the spotlight.

As Spirit progresses with its current cast, attention will remain divided between the film itself and the unresolved questions surrounding the circumstances of Padukone’s exit.