Once upon a time, a gripping story, soulful music and a stellar cast were the holy trinity that guaranteed a film’s worth. Today, that golden formula seems like a forgotten relic. In an era where fans eagerly await the next big cinematic experience, what they often get instead is a court-side seat to Bollywood’s latest backstage drama. Case in point: the steadily spiraling saga surrounding director Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s upcoming flick ‘Spirit’ and its now-viral casting fallout with actor Deepika Padukone. Before dwelling into this, we must understand that many of us are essentially just analysing what is in the public domain and what exactly has led to the real fallout between SRV and Padukone is something that can only be speculated.
So, how did this all begin?
It all began with immense promise. In 2023, when Spirit was first announced with Prabhas in the lead, buzz built rapidly, especially with murmurs that Padukone, already starring alongside Prabhas in Kalki 2898 AD, might feature opposite him again in Spirit. The excitement only grew as reports that time hailed the project as a pan-India spectacle. It was later confirmed that Deepika will come on board as lead for the film. News reports at the time said the female lead character in Vanga’s Spirit is in fact “the most well-written female role” in Vanga’s cinematic world.
Fast forward to early May 2025, Deepika had exited Spirit. What followed was a volley of conflicting reports. Some said she cited scheduling conflicts due to her recent motherhood. Others claimed she demanded a steep Rs 20 crore fee, an 8-hour working schedule and refused to dub in Telugu. Still others painted it as a classic case of “creative differences”.
Then came Deepika’s replacement Triptii Dimri as lead role. Confirming her role, Dimri posted on social media, “Still sinking in… so grateful to be trusted with this journey.” Just as the dust seemed to settle, Pinkvilla dropped a fresh scoop that Spirit would be an “A-rated action” film. Until then, it had only been described as a gritty cop drama.
Director Vanga didn’t take kindly to this supposed plot leak. In a post on X, he lashed out without naming names. “When I narrate a story to an actor, I place 100% faith,” he wrote. “There is an unsaid NDA between us. But by doing this, you’ve ‘DISCLOSED’ the person that you are…”
In a rare instance of a director calling out alleged betrayals publicly, he added, “Putting down a younger actor and ousting my story? Is this what your feminism stands for?”
He concluded in Hindi, “Aisa karo… Agli baar poori kahani bolna… kyunki mujhe jarra bhi farak nahi padta (Next time, reveal the whole story… because I couldn’t care less).” The ‘Kabir Singh’ and ‘Animal’ director signed off with the hashtag #DirtyPRGames.
So, what is this dirty PR game?
Let’s rewind. When Padukone’s casting was announced, fan backlash was swift and merciless. Many took issue with her choice to work with Vanga, whom they viewed as the poster boy of toxic masculinity, courtesy – his last two successful films Kabir Singh and Animal.
Around that time also came reports that Padukone was being paid Rs 20 crore. Now, with Triptii on board, a noticeable narrative shift emerged. News reports, which once boasted about a “well-written female lead”, began referring to Spirit as an “A-rated film with bold scenes”. It was as if the same script had somehow changed its tone overnight.
Dimri’s casting comes with its share of baggage. While the young actor has been praised for her performances in ‘Qala’, ‘Bulbbul’ and ‘Laila Majnu’, there’s a troubling tendency in the industry to box her in with the label “bold”, especially since Animal. That word now follows her like an unwanted tag on every new project. And this time, it’s being used to contrast her “suitability” with Padukone’s supposed discomfort, a comparison that reads both unfair and unnecessary.
With all that said, it’s not the first rodeo we have witnessed of a high-profile project that has aired its dirty laundry in public. The Hera Pheri 3 mess is still playing out in slow motion. With directors, producers and actors constantly walking in and out of the frame, that sequel feels more like a hostage situation than a film in progress.
What will happen next?
The breakup of a filmmaker and a star could have simply been a “creative mismatch”. But instead, it has snowballed into a tabloid spectacle, laced with veiled jabs, backhanded compliments and targeted leaks. Now what happens next?
After all the alleged PR spin and whispered grievances, Spirit will likely survive unscathed. The collaboration between Prabhas and Vanga will have fans show up. The hype is real. But what we have lost in this saga is perhaps more important than a headline: a sense of dignity in disagreement. After all, not every fallout needs to be a fireworks show. Sometimes, a quiet “we’ve parted ways” is the most graceful ending of all.