Spirit: Not Mrunal Thakur or Rukimini Vasanth, Deepika Padukone replaced by Tripti Dimri in Prabhas' film

Triptii Dimri has officially joined the cast of Spirit, stepping into the lead role opposite Prabhas after Deepika Padukone’s reported exit. The film, directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga and produced by Bhushan Kumar’s T-Series, is scheduled to begin shooting in 2025.

Just weeks ago, Deepika Padukone’s association with the film had created significant buzz, especially as it would’ve marked her first collaboration with Vanga and second with Prabhas after their film Kalki 2898 AD. However, her departure was confirmed by Bollywood Hungama, citing reported disagreements over working conditions and remuneration.

According to sources, Deepika had requested an eight-hour working day, ?20 crore in fees, and had declined to dub her own lines in Telugu. One insider shared, “As a new mother, it’s not an unfair ask to do eight hours of shift a day. Every actor who enters motherhood naturally gets more selective and conditional.” The source also noted how organisations across sectors are now more accommodating to new mothers.

Triptii Dimri’s casting was announced on social media by T-Series. The official post read, “A powerful new on-screen pairing is here! We’re thrilled to welcome #TriptiiDimri on board for our ambitious pan-world film #SPIRIT, starring #Prabhas and directed by @imvangasandeep.”

Triptii previously worked with Vanga in the Ranbir Kapoor-starrer Animal. Her performance gained wide attention, with social media dubbing her the “national crush of India.” With Spirit, she returns to Vanga’s vision and joins Prabhas in a high-stakes action drama.

Meanwhile, Deepika Padukone is preparing for her next film King, a crime thriller by Siddharth Anand. The project, which recently went on floors, reunites her with Shah Rukh Khan and Anand post-Pathaan. The cast also includes Suhana Khan, Jaideep Ahlawat, Jackie Shroff, Anil Kapoor, Rani Mukerji, Abhay Verma, and Abhishek Bachchan.

In a recent Marie Claire interview, Deepika shared a moment from early motherhood: “Oh, looks like she’s taking motherhood very seriously,” a director remarked when she declined a meeting to stay with her newborn, Dua.