Deepika Padukone Speaks on Staying True to Herself After Exit from ‘Spirit’
Following her exit from director Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s upcoming film Spirit, Deepika Padukone opened up about staying grounded and true to herself amid challenging situations. In a recent interview, she shared that whenever life presents her with tough choices, she always turns inward.
“What keeps me centred is staying honest and authentic. In complex moments, I trust my instincts, make a decision, and stand by it. That sense of truthfulness brings me peace and helps me stay balanced,” she said.
Her comments come in the wake of online backlash and mixed reactions from fans. While many supported her for making what they called a strong and independent choice, others criticized her and accused her of promoting what they termed as “fake feminism.”
Deepika Padukone Speaks on Staying True to Herself After Exit from ‘Spirit’
Adding fuel to the fire, director Sandeep Reddy Vanga took to social media to express his frustration, without naming her directly. In a strongly worded post on X (formerly Twitter), he hinted at feeling betrayed. “When I share a story with an actor, I do it with complete trust. There’s an unspoken understanding, almost like an NDA. But with your actions, you revealed your true nature… Dismissing a younger actor and abandoning my story — is that your idea of feminism?” he wrote.
Vanga ended his post with a sharp critique of what he called #dirtyPRgames, suggesting he believed Deepika’s exit was part of a larger publicity move.
Despite the controversy, Deepika appears firm in her decision, focusing on inner peace and authenticity over public opinion.
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