Sandeep Reddy Vanga recently took to X to express his frustration over an unnamed actress allegedly breaching an unspoken non-disclosure agreement regarding his upcoming film, ‘Spirit’. Without directly naming anyone, he accused the individual of engaging in manipulative publicity tactics and undermining a younger actor. His cryptic yet pointed remarks fuelled speculation that he was referring to Deepika Padukone, who was previously rumoured to be in talks for the film. However, following reported disagreements over remuneration and work conditions, ‘Animal’ star Triptii Dimri was officially announced as the female lead.
Vanga’s post, laden with sharp words, hinted at his disappointment: “When I narrate a story to an actor, I place 100 percent faith. There is an unsaid Non-disclosure Agreement (NDA) between us. But by doing this, you’ve ‘disclosed’ the person that you are… Putting down a younger actor and ousting my story? Is this what your feminism stands for? As a filmmaker, I put years of hard work behind my craft, and for me, filmmaking is everything. You didn’t get it. You won’t get it. You will never get it. ‘Aisa karo, agli baar poori kahaani bolna… kyunki mujhe zara bhi fark nahi padta.’”
Meanwhile, Padukone, though refraining from directly addressing the controversy, shared her perspective on handling difficult situations in a recent interview from Sweden. Speaking to Vogue Arabia, she emphasised the importance of staying true to oneself: “What keeps me balanced is just being truthful and authentic. Whenever I’m faced with complicated or difficult situations, to be able to listen to my inner voice and just stand by decisions that really give me a lot of peace is when I feel most in equilibrium.”
Whether this exchange marks the end of the controversy or merely the beginning of a prolonged debate remains to be seen. The industry and fans alike are watching closely as the situation unfolds.
