In today’s film industry, it’s rare to see a new-age filmmaker rise to the top without bending to industry norms. But Sandeep Reddy Vanga has carved a different path altogether. With Arjun Reddy, he shook the Telugu audience and then took a bold step by remaking it in Hindi as Kabir Singh, which turned out to be a massive hit. Later, with Animal, he proved that mainstream commercial cinema could still be audacious and stylish—setting new benchmarks in Bollywood filmmaking.
However, despite his success, Vanga finds himself at odds with Bollywood’s inner circles. It’s no secret that the industry has shown a certain disdain towards him—something Vanga himself has acknowledged in his own subtle way. Now, as his next venture Spirit goes on floors, a new controversy has erupted, especially after Deepika Padukone’s quiet exit from the film.
Though there has been no official statement, inside sources reveal that Deepika’s unprofessional demands—such as reduced call sheets, excessive remuneration, a share in profits, and an elaborate personal team (whose salaries she refused to cover)—led to the decision to drop her from the project.
Predictably, Bollywood media swung into damage control. A coordinated narrative emerged, portraying Deepika as a devoted new mother who simply couldn’t commit to a full shooting schedule. The narrative vilifies Sandeep, accusing him of being insensitive and rigid in his expectations. The smear campaign has begun—yet again.
This isn’t new for Vanga. His interviews—often the only place he speaks openly—have landed him in trouble with critics who twist his opinions into controversies. After he spoke about the controversial idea of a couple’s dynamic including the freedom to slap one another, Bollywood retaliated with targeted criticism and even a full-length feature seemingly aimed at ridiculing his viewpoint. Both Arjun Reddy and Kabir Singh faced massive backlash, not for their filmmaking, but for the perceived ideologies they presented.
This backlash led to Animal—a no-holds-barred response from Vanga that didn’t hold back on violence, intensity, or emotion. The audience embraced it wholeheartedly, but once again, Bollywood critics tore into it, calling it toxic and problematic. Negative reviews, coordinated PR takedowns, and industry cold-shouldering have become common for Vanga. It is even alleged that a key actor from Animal was denied another project solely because of his association with Vanga.
Yet, Sandeep remains unfazed. His resilience is perhaps his biggest strength, allowing him to rise despite relentless opposition. But Spirit is at a delicate juncture. The film, which already faced multiple delays, is vulnerable to PR attacks during this period of uncertainty—especially as the team scrambles to find a new lead heroine. As always, Bollywood’s whisper campaign is in full swing.
Still, there’s a silver lining. With Prabhas leading the film and a pan-India appeal attached to it, Spirit holds the potential to become an industry-defining blockbuster. For that to happen, Sandeep must stay focused and block out the noise.
Let the PR machinery run its course. If Sandeep Reddy Vanga channels the same intensity he did in his previous films, Spirit might just become the answer to every critic who ever doubted him.
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