Deepika Padukone talks about ‘shutting out the noise’ amid fallout with Sandeep Reddy Vanga: ‘Standing by my decision, collaborating with people I know I’ll have good time with…’

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by दीपिका पादुकोण (@deepikapadukone)

Deepika padukone in a new interview talking about being TRUTHFUL & AUTHENTIC and making decisions that gives her peace of mind. pic.twitter.com/Uhgr70DmOI

— , (@mastanified) May 27, 2025

In a separate interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Deepika said, “I just listen to my gut, what feels right. I think it’s easier said and done. But, when you shut out the noise around you, and you listen to just your gut, I think the answers are always there. Wanting to collaborate with people that I know I am gonna have good time working with. Being surrounded by family and friends and being authentic is how I think am able to find my balance.”

“Wanting to collaborate with people that I know I’m gonna have good time working with ..”

– Deepika Padukone 👑 pic.twitter.com/BOZf7HQRhu

— 🙃 (@uffyehgehraiyaa) May 28, 2025

Her first public appearance after the Spirit controversy has left the internet divided. Many of her fans commented on the videos from the event, calling her an “unbothered queen”. Meanwhile, others sensed another PR strategy. A comment read, “Ranveer with his multiple accounts is in comments today.” Another comment read, “Word of the Day – Unbothered!!” Other comments read, “Damn the comments are flooded with the ‘unbothered queens PR’ and ‘Cartier should have invited Vanga as well’.”

Deepika at an event for Cartier tonight
byu/yours_truly_Davina inBollyBlindsNGossip

What went wrong?

Despite having worked with Prabhas in Kalki 2898 AD, Deepika allegedly refused to star opposite him in Spirit after her demands weren’t met. The actress allegedly refused to shoot for more than eight hours a day. Her team also demanded the makers to pay her extra for every single day if the shoot extends beyond 100 days, according to Bollywood Hungama. Soon afterwards, the makers replaced Deepika with Animal actor Triptii Dimri. Several reports revealing the film’s plot emerged online, which irked the filmmaker. He shared a long post on X taking an indirect dig at Deepika’s “unprofessionalism” and “dirty PR games”.

On May 26, Sandeep Reddy Vanga took to his official X handle and wrote, “When I narrate a story to an actor, I place 100% faith. There is an unsaid NDA(Non Disclosure Agreement) 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 ? 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 jarra bhi farak nahi padtha. #dirtyPRgames. I like this kahawath very much :-) खुंदक में बिल्ली खंबा नोचे!”

Deepika Padukone’s team is yet to release an official statement over her fallout with the Animal filmmaker.