In the glittering yet cutthroat world of Bollywood, where alliances shift faster than camera angles, a simple social media "like" can spark a wildfire of speculation. That's exactly what happened when Triptii Dimri, the breakout star of Animal, quietly endorsed a reel calling out "negative PR" tactics against Deepika Padukone. This understated gesture has reignited the flames around the Spirit controversy, pulling back the curtain on rumored tensions between Deepika and director Sandeep Reddy Vanga. As fans rally online, the incident highlights the toxic underbelly of industry rivalries and the power of solidarity among women in a male-dominated arena.

The Spirit Saga: From Hype to Heartbreak

Spirit, Sandeep Reddy Vanga's highly anticipated action thriller starring pan-India sensation Prabhas, was meant to be a cinematic juggernaut. Announced with much fanfare earlier this year, the project promised a gritty cop drama laced with Vanga's signature intensity—think Animal meets high-stakes heroism. Deepika Padukone, fresh off her maternal glow-up and global acclaim, was initially locked in as the female lead, marking her first brush with the maverick director. Whispers of bold, boundary-pushing scenes had fans buzzing, envisioning a powerhouse pairing that could redefine on-screen chemistry.

But excitement soured into scandal when Deepika exited the project in May 2025. Insiders painted a picture of clashing visions: Deepika, prioritizing her post-motherhood life, reportedly pushed for an eight-hour workday cap (translating to about six effective hours on set), a profit-sharing slice, and a bumped-up fee to reflect her star power. These weren't wild asks in an era of work-life balance advocacy, but they clashed with Vanga's grueling schedule. Production sources labeled it "unprofessional," fueling a narrative that painted the Piku icon as demanding and difficult.

Enter Triptii Dimri, Vanga's Animal protégé, who stepped in seamlessly as Prabhas's co-star. At just 30, Triptii's raw vulnerability in the 2023 hit had already catapulted her from indie darling to A-lister, earning her a cool Rs 4 crore payday for Spirit. The recasting was hailed as a "dream reunion," but it couldn't drown out the elephant in the room: Was Deepika being unfairly sidelined, or was this just business as usual?

Vanga's Cryptic Shots: Fueling the Fire

Sandeep Reddy Vanga, never one to shy from controversy, didn't help matters. Days after Triptii's announcement, he unleashed a barrage of enigmatic X posts that screamed subtext. One ranted about an unnamed actor breaching an "unsaid NDA" by spilling script secrets to sabotage the film. Another jabbed at "putting down a younger actor and ousting my story," signed off with #dirtyPRgames. Fans connected the dots faster than a plot twist, accusing Vanga of shading Deepika for allegedly leaking details about the script's steamy sequences to undermine Triptii.

The director's history of polarizing statements—recall his Animal defenses—only amplified the backlash. Critics slammed him for weaponizing feminism against a senior actress, while supporters cheered his "no-nonsense" vibe. Deepika, ever the poised pro, stayed mum, focusing on her family and upcoming ventures like Atlee's Allu Arjun flick. But the damage was done: Rumors snowballed, with trolls dubbing her "diva demands" and pitting her against Triptii in a generational cage match.

Triptii's Like: A Silent Statement of Sisterhood

Fast-forward to October 2025, and Triptii drops her mic-drop moment. Scrolling through Instagram, she hits "like" on a reel dissecting the "false narratives" and orchestrated hate against Deepika. The video, a sharp takedown of PR manipulations, resonated deeply—especially for Triptii, who's weathered her own storms of body-shaming and casting couch whispers post-Animal. No caption, no fanfare; just a digital thumbs-up that screamed volumes.

This wasn't performative allyship. Triptii, often dragged into the crossfire as the "replacement," could have stayed neutral to dodge the drama. Instead, her nod reframed the narrative: Women in Bollywood aren't enemies; the real foes are the shadowy spin machines that thrive on division. It echoed Deepika's own grace under fire, reminding us that true power lies in lifting each other up, not tearing down.

Social Media Erupts: Fans Flip the Script

The internet, that chaotic coliseum, lit up like Diwali. On Reddit's r/BollyBlindsNGossip, threads exploded with praise: "Triptii gets it— we've seen enough pitting women against each other," one user vented, nodding to Deepika's enduring "aura" that no scandal can dim. X timelines buzzed with memes and manifestos, from "Deepika slays, Triptii shines—end the hate" to digs at Vanga's "toxic fandom." Hashtags like #WomenInBollywood and #SpiritSolidarity trended, with fans decrying the hypocrisy: Bold scenes are "art" for Triptii, but "demands" for Deepika?

Yet, not everyone's on board. Vanga loyalists fired back, recycling old tropes about Deepika's "cheap PR tricks" from Padmaavat days. The divide underscores Bollywood's fractured fandoms, where loyalty often trumps nuance.

Beyond the Buzz: A Call for Cleaner Games

At its core, this Spirit skirmish exposes the PR pitfalls plaguing Hindi cinema. Leaks, leaks, and more leaks keep the rumor mill churning, often at women's expense. Triptii's gesture? A refreshing riposte, urging the industry to evolve. As Spirit gears up for its 2026 release, one hopes it channels that raw energy into storytelling, not scandals. After all, in a town built on dreams, a little empathy might just be the boldest move of all.

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