Deepika Padukone was never truly in the running for ‘Spirit’

Deepika Padukone is back in the headlines as old reports of her 2025 exit from Sandeep Reddy Vanga's "Spirit" resurface.

Deepika Padukone is back in the headlines as old reports of her 2025 exit from Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s “Spirit” resurface. The story has drawn fresh attention despite happening more than a year ago.

At the time, the actress reportedly left the project after feeling she had not been properly briefed. Producer Pranay Reddy Vanga had also claimed she had asked for a share of the film’s profits.

Now, sources close to the actress say she was never seriously considering the role in the first place. According to an insider, Padukone has only met Vanga once in her entire career, and the filmmaker reportedly showed up an hour late to that meeting.

Despite the delay, the source said Padukone handled the rest of the interaction professionally throughout. According to a Hindustan Times report, she was never given a full narration for the project, receiving only a brief, one-line pitch instead.

Sources explained that this approach simply does not match how Padukone typically works. According to the insider, she never commits to a project without hearing a complete narration first, meaning “Spirit” was reportedly never genuinely on her radar to begin with.

The source went further, suggesting Padukone would be unlikely to work with Vanga under any circumstances. They pointed to his reputation, describing his approach as reflecting deeply misogynistic undertones, both in his public persona and in the content of his films.

Following her exit, “Spirit” has since moved forward with a new cast, now featuring Prabhas and Tripti Dimri in the lead roles.

Vanga remains widely known for directing dark, intense films including “Animal,” “Arjun Reddy” and “Kabir Singh.” His work has often sparked debate over its treatment of gender dynamics and on-screen violence.

With the story resurfacing now, it’s reignited public discussion around both Padukone’s selective approach to choosing projects and the broader criticism Vanga’s filmmaking style continues to attract within the industry.