Sandeep Reddy Vanga slams Deepika Padukone for ‘Dirty PR Games’

Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga has ignited a firestorm of controversy with a blistering post on X (formerly Twitter), accusing an unnamed Bollywood star—widely believed to be Deepika Padukone—of violating a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) by leaking details about his upcoming film Spirit, following her exit and subsequent replacement by Triptii Dimri.

The accusation

In his now-viral post on May 26, 2025, Vanga wrote: “When I narrate a story to an actor, I place 100% faith. There’s an unsaid NDA between us. But by leaking my story, you’ve shown who you really are. Sabotaging a younger actor’s moment and playing dirty PR games? Is this your idea of feminism? Next time, spill the whole story—I don’t care!”

He ended the post with a Hindi idiom: “Khundak mein billi khamba noche” (An embarrassed cat scratches the pole), seemingly taking a veiled swipe at Deepika Padukone without directly naming her.

Deepika Padukone’s exit and Dimri’s casting

The controversy erupted shortly after Vanga officially announced Triptii Dimri as the female lead opposite Prabhas in “Spirit” on May 24, 2025. Padukone, who was initially approached for the role, reportedly exited the project due to multiple creative and contractual disagreements.

Sources close to the production revealed the reasons included:

1. Discomfort with the film’s bold, A-rated content.
2. A demand for Rs 20 crore plus profit-sharing.
3. Requests for shorter shooting schedules.

Sandeep Reddy Vanga, unable to meet these conditions, opted for Dimri—his collaborator from Animal—at a reported fee of Rs 4 crore.

The fallout

Soon after Dimri’s casting, several Bollywood outlets published details hinting at Spirit’s intense and provocative content. Vanga’s post insinuated that Padukone may have leaked these details as retaliation, potentially to undermine Dimri’s role and the film’s public reception.

Adding to the drama, Vanga left a pointed comment on one of Padukone’s Instagram posts: “Agli baar poori kahani bolna… kyunki mujhe farak nahi padta”(“Next time, reveal the whole story… I don’t care.”)

Deepika Padukone has not issued a public response yet.

Vanga’s controversial approach

This isn’t Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s first brush with controversy. Known for his polarizing narratives and bold filmmaking style in “Kabir Singh” and “Animal,” Vanga often clashes with industry norms and critics alike. The “Spirit” incident has only added to his reputation for being unfiltered and fiercely protective of his creative vision.

“Spirit” is crime drama starring Prabhas as a police officer. Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Bhadrakali Pictures and T-series Bhushan Kumar are bankrolling it.