It appears that Deepika Padukone will no longer be headlining director Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s upcoming action spectacle ‘Spirit’, which features Prabhas in the lead. Buzz surrounding her involvement had stirred excitement among fans, but multiple reports from Telugu entertainment portals suggest that the collaboration has quietly fallen through due to creative and contractual disagreements.
New lead in Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit?
As per a report by Aakashvaani, the team is now eyeing Kannada actress Rukmini Vasanth, best known for her acclaimed role in ‘Sapta Sagaradaache Ello’, as a possible replacement. While discussions are ongoing, there’s been no official word from the filmmakers confirming her casting.
According to prominent portals like Gulte and GreatAndhra.com, the decision to part ways with Deepika reportedly stemmed from a series of conditions she had put forward. Among them was a request to cap her working hours at eight per day, which would effectively limit her shoot time to around six hours.
Deepika Padukone walks out of Spirit
The situation was further complicated by Deepika’s demand for a sizeable fee, reportedly Rs 20 crore, her career's highest, as well as a share of the film’s backend profits. Additionally, sources claim she was unwilling to deliver her dialogues in Telugu, a factor that reportedly proved challenging for a project rooted in regional storytelling.
‘Spirit’, backed by T-Series and Bhadrakali Pictures, is currently in the final stages of scripting. Shooting is slated to begin in October 2025. While plot specifics remain under wraps, a Pinkvilla report reveals that Vanga has spent over half a year fine-tuning the screenplay, which is expected to feature high-octane action and emotionally intense moments.
If all goes as planned, ‘Spirit’ will arrive in theatres in 2027, promising to be yet another ambitious chapter in Prabhas’ action-packed filmography.