After weeks of speculation, director Sandeep Reddy Vanga has officially confirmed that actress Triptii Dimri will star opposite Prabhas as the female lead in Spirit. The announcement comes in the wake of Deepika Padukone’s abrupt exit from the project, which has sparked buzz in industry circles as well as on social media.
According to reports, Deepika's departure stemmed from a series of creative and logistical disagreements with the filmmaker. The Padmaavat star had demanded over Rs 20 crore in remuneration and requested shorter working hours to accommodate her responsibilities as a new mother. However, these terms reportedly clashed with Vanga’s intensive working style and vision for the high-octane project.
Meanwhile, Telugu 360 reports that Triptii is being paid approximately Rs 4 crore for the role, a figure much lower than Deepika’s reported fee. While the financial details remain unconfirmed, insiders point to Triptii’s established rapport with Vanga, having previously worked with him on the blockbuster Animal, as a key factor in her casting.
On May 24, Triptii shared the official title poster of Spirit across multiple languages, expressing her excitement and gratitude in a heartfelt note. “Still sinking in… So grateful to be trusted with this journey. Thank you @sandeepreddy.vanga… Honoured to be a part of your vision,” she wrote.
Director Vanga also welcomed her aboard, writing, “The female lead for my film is now official :-)”.
With Triptii now officially part of Spirit, the film’s casting appears to be back on track, promising an intriguing new pairing between her and Prabhas in one of the most anticipated projects of the year.
According to media reports, the film has already seen multiple delays, first due to Deepika's pregnancy and maternity leave, and later due to Prabhas' injury and his packed shooting schedule.
