New Delhi: Deepika Padukone walked out of Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s film Spirit nearly a year ago. Now, Sandeep’s brother and producer Pranay Reddy Vanga has claimed that Padukone asked for 10 per cent of the film’s profits.
Speaking on a podcast with NTV Telugu, Pranay said Sandeep had initially been interested in working with Padukone because he liked her work. However, his perception changed once the project began. The producer added that remuneration and scheduling were among the main concerns, and that the decision to change the casting was ultimately Sandeep’s.
“First was remuneration, second was timings. Not just that, there were other reasons as well. I don’t remember on top of my head right now,” he said in Telugu.
Pranay alleged that Deepika demanded more money after some of her films became successful.
“But a lot changes in a period of time. Even some of her films went on to become hits, so she started demanding 10 per cent of net income. Thus everything went overboard,” he said.
‘6-month break after Spirit’
Padukone’s character in Spirit is now being played by Triptii Dimri. The Prabhas-led film also stars Vivek Oberoi in an important role. The story follows a fierce cop who sets out on a mission to tackle an international crime syndicate.
Sandeep Reddy Vanga is expected to move on to Animal Park after Spirit. Pranay said that the director would take a six-month break after the release of Spirit before starting work on the Ranbir Kapoor-starrer sequel.
“He takes time to write. He doesn’t write in a hurry,’ Pranay said.
Kapoor will reprise his role in Animal Park, the sequel to the 2023 blockbuster Animal. The film is expected to expand the world established in the first film, with Vanga returning as director.
(Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)
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