Triptii Dimri has officially replaced Deepika Padukone in Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s much-anticipated film Spirit, and the casting shake-up has set off a storm of reactions online.
Many fans felt the young actress isn’t ready for a project of this scale. To many, this casting change feels like a downgrade.
Also Read – Vanga vs Deepika: Was This Ugly Fallout Necessary?
Was it a creative call or simply a budget decision? Triptii is undoubtedly a more affordable option than Deepika, but with a huge star like Prabhas, many wonder why the makers are suddenly cost-conscious.
A Pinkvilla report on Monday shed more light on the film’s tone and content. Spirit will follow Vanga’s signature style — a bold, A-rated action drama packed with high-octane sequences and bold scenes.
Also Read – Adivi Sesh Goes Mass This Time
Both Prabhas and Triptii have reportedly agreed to the script as it stands. Interestingly, when Deepika was attached to the project, she had requested some scenes be toned down.
Now Vanga did not take this lightly. On Monday night, in a fiery social media post, he lashed out without taking names but clearly hinting at Deepika Padukone and her PR machinery.
Also Read – Biggest Problem of WAR 2: Can Shah Rukh Khan Save?
He accused a former lead (believed to be Deepika) of breaking trust and leaking story elements. He questioned her feminism, slammed the public takedown of a younger actress, and dropped a sharp line in Hindi: “Khundak mein billi khamba noche.” (A cat scratches the pole in frustration.)
However, the backlash hasn’t spared Vanga either. Many users pointed out that his own team had earlier leaked details about Deepika’s contractual demands and creative issues.
Now that her camp may be pushing back, Vanga’s sudden outrage is being seen as selective. One user remarked, “He always surrounds his films with controversy and bashes feminism to create hype.”
Despite the noise, Vanga appears unfazed. He claims he doesn’t care even if the entire story leaks. Prabhas’ fans are hailing him for this confidence.
Spirit is set to begin filming in October 2025 and will be released in nine languages. Talks are currently on with Korean actor Ma Dong-seok for a key role.
Whether this casting gamble pays off or crashes hard, one thing is certain: Spirit has already set the internet on fire — and the cameras haven’t even started rolling.
