Deepika Padukone is reportedly no longer part of Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s upcoming film Spirit, which stars Prabhas in the lead.
According to recent reports, the actress was removed from the project due to alleged contractual disagreements and what insiders have described as “unprofessional” behaviour.
The film, which has already seen multiple production delays, is now said to be undergoing another casting change. Initially postponed due to Deepika's pregnancy and childbirth, and later impacted by Prabhas’ injury and commitments to other films, Spirit has struggled to maintain a steady timeline.
As per a report by Filmfare, tensions reportedly rose between Deepika's team and the production over remuneration terms and shooting schedules.
A source quoted by Bollywood Hungama claimed, “Sandeep Reddy Vanga got the shock of his life when Deepika Padukone refused to shoot for more than 6 hours a day for Spirit. That’s not all, the actress, via her agency, also started to demand an amendment to the contract. Their point of contention was simple — if the shoot extends beyond 100 days, Deepika will have to be paid extra for every single day of shoot beyond the commitment on paper.”
These issues reportedly led the director and his team to reconsider their casting options. While an official announcement regarding her exit is still pending, industry sources suggest the team is now actively seeking a replacement.
Meanwhile, the fate of Spirit remains uncertain, with speculation that filming may be pushed to next year. Prabhas is expected to complete work on sequels to Kalki 2898 AD and Salaar before he begins shooting for Spirit.
Despite the setbacks, producer Bhushan Kumar recently shared in an interview that Spirit is still on track to begin production within the next two to three months. Once that is completed, director Sandeep Reddy Vanga is expected to shift his focus to Animal Park, the sequel to his recent hit Animal.
On the professional front, Deepika is lined up to appear in the sequel to Kalki 2898 AD, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love and War, and Shah Rukh Khan’s upcoming project King.