Sandeep vs Deepika gets ugly…‘Is this what your feminism stands for?’ he hits out
The director slams the actress and her team’s ‘dirty PR games’ after she walked out of ‘Spirit’ and joined Allu Arjun & Atlee’s ‘AA6XAA22’ soon after
Deepika Padukone has signed on for Allu Arjun’s much-anticipated film AA6XAA22, to be directed by Atlee. The announcement came just days after she exited Spirit, helmed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga and starring Prabhas.
According to sources close to Atlee’s team, the filmmaker and Allu Arjun have agreed to Deepika’s request for an eight-hour workday. The actor, who recently returned to work after the birth of her daughter, is reportedly prioritising fixed working hours.
In contrast, according to the grapevine, (in other words a PR team with vested interest) Spirit director Sandeep Reddy Vanga was unwilling to accommodate this clause — leading to Deepika’s quiet exit from the project, even after she had officially signed on.
Another factor, “insiders” say, was Deepika’s unease with the film’s “bold narrative”.
Vanga, not known for holding back, took to X with a pointed post seemingly aimed at the actor. While reaffirming his decision to cast Triptii Dimri, he wrote: “When I narrate a story to an actor, I place 100% faith. There is an unsaid NDA between us. But by doing this, you’ve disclosed the person that you are. Putting down a younger actor and ousting my story? Is this what your feminism stands for?”
His post appeared to take a sharp dig at Deepika Padukone and her PR team, implying that they had leaked confidential information after she exited the project. He also accused Deepika and her team of planting stories to tarnish his name and undermine the film. “As a filmmaker, I put years of hard work behind my craft. For me, filmmaking is everything. You didn’t get it. You won’t get it. You will never get it. Aisa karo… agli baar poori kahani bolna… kyunki mujhe zara bhi farak nahi padta. (Next time narrate the full story, because your truth or lies make no difference to me.)” While Deepika and her team have remained silent on the controversy, many voices from the industry have spoken up in support of the actor and the issue of gender parity. “There is nothing wrong in asking for fixed working hours,” said one actress. “There are so many male stars who have strict clauses about in-time and pack-up. But when a woman, who is also a new mother, asks for it — she’s called difficult. Why the double standard?” Meanwhile, AA6XAA22 — being described as a high-octane sci-fi action entertainer — also stars Janhvi Kapoor and Mrunal Thakur. Atlee is currently in Los Angeles working on the film’s pre-production.