In a surprising turn of events, bollywood superstar deepika padukone has been dropped from the much-awaited film Spirit, directed by sandeep Reddy Vanga and starring prabhas in the lead role. The news has stirred significant buzz in both bollywood and tollywood circles. Reports suggest that Deepika's high remuneration demands and other professional terms created friction with the director. While initial talks indicated a promising collaboration, sources say that sandeep Vanga was reportedly irked by the excessive demands and chose to part ways with the actress. The development came as a shock to fans who were eager to see the star pairing of deepika and prabhas on screen for the first time.

Stepping into the spotlight is tripti dimri, who shot to fame with her powerful performance in Animal, also directed by sandeep Vanga. Tripti has officially been roped in as the female lead opposite prabhas in Spirit, and her casting has received mixed reactions from fans. While some viewers were expecting a more established name, others are optimistic about Vanga’s ability to bring out strong, memorable performances from his actors, especially after Tripti's success in Animal. The actress has reportedly signed the film immediately upon receiving the offer, agreeing to a remuneration of Rs 4 crores—significantly less than the Rs 20+ crores deepika had quoted. This indicates the director’s desire to stay within budget constraints while still working with committed, rising talent.

The film, an intense action drama with prabhas portraying a cop, is scheduled to go on floors later this year and is aiming for a 2026 release. With the casting of tripti dimri now confirmed, sandeep Reddy Vanga is actively finalizing the remaining cast and crew for the ambitious project. Known for his gritty storytelling and stylish presentation, Vanga is expected to bring a fresh take to the cop genre, blending emotional intensity with raw action. Given Prabhas’s pan-India appeal and the momentum Tripti has built, Spirit is shaping up to be a key film to watch in the coming years, despite the initial casting shake-up.

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