Deepika Padukone gets strong support from Bollywood

Bollywood superstar Deepika Padukone has received significant backing from within the Bollywood industry following her reported fallout with director Sandeep Reddy Vanga over the film “Spirit.”

Deepika’s demands, Kabir Khan’s support

The controversy centers around Deepika’s alleged demands for an eight-hour workday, a Rs 25 crore fee, and a share in the film’s profits—conditions that reportedly led to her exit from the Prabhas-starrer.

Bollywood filmmaker Kabir Khan—who worked with Deepika on the 2021 sports drama 83—voiced his full support for the actress.

“Aamir Khan works eight-hour shifts. So does Akshay Kumar. I don’t see why Deepika should be denied the same,” Khan said, defending her request as standard for top-tier actors.

He also backed her remuneration demands, stating, “Deepika earns more than many male actors. She’s a massive crowd-puller and deserves her worth.”

Emphasizing the importance of fair practices in filmmaking, Kabir Khan added that rules such as limiting work to 12-hour shifts and ensuring weekly days off should be non-negotiable for the well-being of cast and crew alike.

Deepika vs Vanga

The “Spirit” row escalated when Vanga, best known for Kabir Singh and Animal, accused an unnamed actress—widely speculated to be Deepika—of leaking the script and undermining her replacement, rising star Triptii Dimri.

While Deepika has yet to publicly respond, her fans and colleagues have rallied behind her. Amid the controversy, Deepika has shifted focus with the announcement of her next big project—a pan-India film alongside Allu Arjun, directed by Atlee, tentatively titled AA22 x A6.