Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta recently appeared on a podcast and sparked new discussions about the real reason behind Deepika Padukone’s exit from Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s action thriller Spirit.
For months, netizens believed Deepika stepped out due to scheduling issues. She had become a new mother and was juggling packed commitments before officially exiting the film in May 2025.
But Sanjay’s comments suggest a different story about production culture differences between the South and Bollywood industries. A clip from the podcast has gone viral, where he recalls a shocking incident involving a “big Bollywood couple.”
He said the hero demanded six vanity vans, while the heroine asked for five. She also insisted that her full team, including her manager, makeup artist, hair stylist and spot boy, each needed separate vans.
Producers were stunned by these demands and asked the actors to return to Mumbai for a few days. They later asked the teams of both actors to leave the set as well.
Although Sanjay didn’t reveal names, social media users immediately linked the story to Deepika and Ranveer, who have previously faced similar accusations about vanity van usage.
Sanjay also said it was strange to see a married couple ask for separate vans for food preparation, which left the South crew confused and frustrated.
After the fallout, Triptii Dimri stepped in as Prabhas’ co-star in Spirit. She had earlier worked with the filmmaker on the blockbuster Animal starring Ranbir Kapoor.
Deepika’s team had earlier hinted at creative differences, discomfort with bold A-rated scenes and hesitation to dub in Telugu. But many netizens now believe Sanjay’s explanation is equally credible.
If Sanjay’s claims are true, Deepika did not leave due to clashing calendars but due to disagreements over vanity vans and on-set arrangements.
Fans are now looking forward to her comeback in the upcoming action saga King, where she stars alongside Shah Rukh Khan.
Director Sanjay Gupta exposed #DeepikaPadukone and #RanveerSingh, stating that Deepika demanded six vanity vans and asked the producers to pay for her entire team. This was the reason behind Deepika’s exit from #Kalki2898AD and #Spirit. pic.twitter.com/cqVEokuxaW
— a (@iahaanx) December 4, 2025
