Mumbai: The reason for Deepika Padukone’s exit from ‘Spirit’ was said to be her demand for an 8-hour work shift, which didn’t go down well with director Sandeep Reddy Vanga.
Now, it has emerged that the ‘8-hour shift’ was not why Deepika lost the film.
A source close to the development told News18 Showsha that the actress demanded Rs 25 crore and 10% of the film’s profit. Moreover, she was unwilling to deliver her dialogues in Telugu.
“There seems to be a deliberate attempt to control the narrative. The actress’ perception team is struggling to come to terms with her replacement and is conveniently spinning her exit as a ‘work-life balance’ decision. But the reality is quite different,” the source said.
“The actor had reportedly demanded ₹25 crores for approximately 35 days of shoot, along with a 10% profit share, extensive entourage expenses, and even expressed unwillingness to deliver dialogues in Telugu—something the director felt strongly about. To top it off, confidential plot details from Spirit were allegedly leaked, which raised serious concerns among the producers.”
“Contrary to speculation, her restricted filming schedule of under 8 hours a day was never the primary issue. In filmmaking, working hours are fluid and depend on location, lighting, and various technical factors. You could shoot for 2 hours or 8, depending on the scene. What truly matters is flexibility, collaboration, and respect for the craft,” the source added.
Pointing out that actors from south have learnt Hindi to deliver their own dialogues, the source said, “It’s about commitment. Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga believes actors speaking their own lines builds authenticity and emotional connect with the audience.”
Setting the record straight, the source continued, “Also using this situation many are commenting on the work life balance without knowing the facts and understanding repercussions a production/director can face, this is not just misleading; it’s unfair. This isn’t about hours or schedules, it’s about unreasonable demands, lack of adaptability, and unprofessional conduct.”
Deepika’s team has not yet responded to the latest claim.
