Deepika Padukone, who recently embraced motherhood, is reportedly facing professional turbulence. After being dropped from Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Spirit, new reports suggest the actress may also be replaced in Kalki 2, starring Prabhas.

According to Bollywood.mobi, Deepika’s request for reduced working hours post-childbirth has led to tension on set, prompting the filmmakers to consider her removal from the project. However, neither Deepika nor the Kalki 2 team has issued an official statement.

Earlier, Deepika’s alleged exit from Spirit was attributed to disputes over remuneration and contractual terms. A source told Bollywood Hungama that the actress, through her agency, had demanded additional compensation for filming beyond 100 days, insisting on changes to her contract. Moreover, she reportedly refused to work beyond six hours per day.

Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga later made cryptic remarks on X (formerly Twitter), seemingly addressing the fallout. Without naming Deepika directly, he criticized what he perceived as betrayal and questioned the actress’s integrity, saying, "You’ve 'DISCLOSED' the person that you are... Putting down a younger actor and ousting my story? Is this what your feminism stands for?"

He also commented on media speculation, saying, "Next time, tell the full story... because I really don't care. #dirtyPRgames."

In the wake of Deepika’s reported exit from Spirit, actress Triptii Dimri—who previously collaborated with Vanga in Animal—has been announced as the new female lead. Dimri shared the film’s title poster across social media, expressing gratitude for the opportunity and writing, "Still sinking in... So grateful to be trusted with this journey."

Source: NDTV