Deepika Padukone Signals Stance in ‘Spirit’ Controversy After Profit-Share Claims Spark Backlash

The discourse surrounding Bollywood superstar Deepika Padukone has reignited, more than a year after her departure from director Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s upcoming film, Spirit. The actress recently made her position clear by "liking" a social media post that criticized the director’s brother, Pranay Vanga, for his recent remarks regarding her exit.

The Profit-Share Contention

The controversy stems from a recent interview with NTV Telugu, in which Pranay Reddy Vanga alleged that Padukone’s exit from the Prabhas-starrer was primarily driven by a demand for a 10% profit share in the film.

"The reason is the same as what was already mentioned—remuneration and timing," Pranay stated. "She can ask for anything; if we are willing to give, we can give. But the economics should also work out for us. We thought that it was not working, which is why we looked at other options."

This account contradicts earlier reports from last year, which suggested the actress had requested an 8-hour workday to accommodate her life as a new mother, alongside other creative differences.

A Debate on Double Standards

The viral Instagram post that caught Padukone’s attention—and her subsequent "like"—argued that the criticism leveled against her reeks of a double standard. The post questioned why a female superstar is being vilified for negotiating a profit-sharing deal, a practice that has been long established as standard for top-tier male actors in the Indian film industry.

The caption of the viral post was blunt, stating: "Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s brother Pranay claims Deepika Padukone asked for 10% profit share of Spirit and I’m just wondering, did we forget male actors have been doing this for years? Why is a woman doing the same [a point of] NEWS?"

The post further suggested that the backlash against Padukone is rooted in a "male-ego crisis," asserting that the industry struggle to handle a woman who is willing to say "no" to a deal that does not suit her professional or personal requirements.

A History of Tensions

This is not the first time Padukone’s exit from a Vanga project has caused friction. When the news of her departure first broke in April last year, it triggered a wave of speculation. At the time, Sandeep Reddy Vanga had taken to social media to voice his frustrations, implying that the actress had breached an "unspoken NDA" regarding the project’s development.

"When I narrate a story to an actor, I place 100% faith. There is an unsaid NDA between us. But by doing this, you’ve ‘DISCLOSED’ the person that you are," Vanga had remarked publicly, questioning the nature of the actress’s professional boundaries.

Moving Forward

With the role in Spirit now filled by Triptii Dimri, the project is moving ahead toward its scheduled release on March 5, 2027. Meanwhile, Padukone remains one of the busiest stars in Indian cinema. Her upcoming slate includes King, in which she stars alongside Shah Rukh Khan, and Atlee’s Raaka, where she is set to share the screen with Allu Arjun.

As the online debate continues, fans remain divided, with many praising Padukone for standing her ground while others debate the business logistics of the film industry’s casting and remuneration practices.