‘Is This What Your Feminism Stands For?’ — Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Explosive Tweet After Deepika Padukone’s Exit From Spirit Sparks Debate

In a development that's sent shockwaves through Bollywood, Animal director Sandeep Reddy Vanga has publicly lashed out in a cryptic, angry tweet just days after Deepika Padukone’s sudden exit from his upcoming film Spirit, starring Prabhas. Without naming names, Vanga’s sharp choice of words—“Is this what your feminism stands for?”—has ignited a fiery debate about professionalism, feminism, and the murky underbelly of Bollywood PR games.

The Tweet That Sparked It All

On Monday evening, Vanga took to his official X (formerly Twitter) account and posted:

“Standing up for yourself is great. Fabricating stories, manipulating the narrative and resorting to dirty PR games is cowardice. Is this what your feminism stands for?”

While he didn't tag or name anyone, it didn’t take long for social media users and film industry insiders to draw the dots—especially given that Deepika Padukone had just exited Spirit, and her team reportedly circulated stories about "creative differences" and "schedule conflicts."

The timing was no coincidence.

Deepika’s Mysterious Exit

Deepika’s Mysterious Exit

Padukone’s sudden walkout from Spirit had already raised eyebrows. While the official line was “scheduling conflicts,” several entertainment portals hinted at deeper issues. Some sources claimed Deepika wasn’t comfortable with how her role was shaping up, with whispers suggesting she had concerns about the "male gaze" narrative that Vanga has been repeatedly criticised for—especially post Kabir Singh and Animal.

Was she silently protesting the kind of cinema Vanga makes? Or did she simply sense that Spirit might not offer her the kind of meaningful role she expects at this stage in her career?

Triptii Dimri Steps In

As if to underline the unpredictability of Bollywood’s power dynamics, rising star Triptii Dimri—hailed as “the new face of bold, raw talent”—was swiftly announced as Deepika’s replacement. Dimri, known for her performance in Animal, confirmed the news via Instagram, calling it “an honour to reunite with a visionary like Vanga.”

The juxtaposition was glaring: one actress walks out under mysterious and seemingly ideological circumstances, while another steps in with open arms. Is this a generational divide in how female actors navigate power equations in the industry?

Feminism or Selective Outrage?

Vanga’s tweet takes a provocative jab at what he perceives as “selective feminism.” For someone whose films have been called out for glorifying toxic masculinity, this public questioning of Padukone’s feminism feels both audacious and ironic. Critics have called it gaslighting—attacking a woman’s integrity the moment she steps away from a male-driven narrative.

But Vanga’s supporters are rallying behind him, arguing that stars often use the "feminism" label to escape accountability when projects don’t go their way. “If Deepika had genuine concerns, why sign the film in the first place?” one X user commented. “Why use media outlets to spin the story?”

The PR War Begins

What makes this episode even more explosive is the clear presence of behind-the-scenes PR warfare. Vanga has alleged “dirty PR games,” indicating that someone from the opposing camp—again, presumably Padukone’s team—has been leaking unfavourable stories about the filmmaker to the press.

This kind of post-exit narrative control is not new to Bollywood. But rarely do directors publicly call it out, especially with such emotionally charged language.

The Bigger Picture

At the heart of this controversy lies a bigger question: how do we define feminism in Bollywood? Does standing up for better roles and screen presence qualify as feminist action? Or is it a smokescreen used to camouflage other motives—be it ego, image management, or strategic reshuffling?

Vanga’s tweet, laced with fury and sarcasm, may be an attempt to reclaim control over a narrative he believes is being hijacked. But the optics of a male director calling out a female actor over "feminism" have left many uncomfortable—even those who don’t fully side with Padukone.

Final Word

In a deeply patriarchal industry where women are still fighting for decent screen time and representation, the Padukone-Vanga fallout has become more than just a casting change—it’s now a case study in how narratives are constructed, deconstructed, and weaponised.

Whether Deepika walked out for ideological reasons, script-related concerns, or personal preferences, one thing is certain: her silence is louder than Vanga’s tweet—and it’s echoing far beyond the walls of Bollywood.