Deepika Padukone’s exit from Spirit has once again become a talking point after fresh comments from producer Pranay Reddy Vanga, brother of director Sandeep Reddy Vanga. But one important point needs to be clarified: Deepika has never publicly stated that she deserves more remuneration than Prabhas. The current controversy stems from claims about her negotiations, not from any statement comparing her worth with the film’s male lead.

According to Pranay Reddy Vanga, negotiations with Deepika continued for around 18 months and eventually ran into problems over remuneration and working hours. He claimed that she sought a 10% share of the film’s post-release net income, in addition to her remuneration. Pranay said the makers were willing to consider demands depending on the economics of the project, but felt that the overall terms did not work within the film’s budget, leading them to explore another actress.

This is different from saying that Deepika demanded more money than Prabhas. In fact, her own recent public response has been indirect. Deepika liked an Instagram post questioning why a woman asking for a profit-sharing arrangement becomes news when male actors have routinely negotiated similar deals. That suggests her issue is more about the way female stars are judged for negotiating than about claiming superiority over Prabhas.

The earlier controversy around Spirit was largely centred on Deepika’s reported demand for an eight-hour working day. In 2025, she publicly defended that position, pointing out that several male actors had followed eight-hour shifts for years without facing the same backlash. She also argued that asking for such working conditions should not be treated as unreasonable.

There is also a completely different account of the episode. A source cited by Hindustan Times claimed Deepika had only met Sandeep once, received no full narration and had no intention of working with him in the first place. That account directly complicates the narrative that the project simply collapsed after a prolonged pay negotiation. Neither side’s version should therefore be treated as an independently established fact.

So, no, Deepika did not say that she deserves more than Prabhas. What is actually on record is a dispute over remuneration, profit sharing and working conditions, followed by competing accounts about why the collaboration fell apart. Spirit has since moved ahead with Triptii Dimri opposite Prabhas and is currently scheduled for March 5, 2027.

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