Famous filmmaker Mani Ratnam has supported Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone after she left director Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s upcoming film Spirit. Her decision created a lot of buzz in the film industry, and many actors, actresses, and directors have come forward to support her. Mani Ratnam is also one of them.
For those who don’t know, Deepika Padukone was called “unprofessional” by Sandeep Reddy Vanga because she walked out of his film. Later, it was revealed that Deepika had made a few requests before joining the project. These included equal pay for women and eight-hour work shifts, especially since she is a new mother.
After the controversy became big and people started talking about it everywhere, many social media users also reacted strongly. Sandeep Reddy Vanga even wrote about the issue on X (formerly Twitter), which made the situation worse.
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….
— Sandeep Reddy Vanga (@imvangasandeep) May 26, 2025
Putting down a Younger actor and ousting my story? Is this what your feminism stands for ? As a…
In a recent interview with News18.com, Mani Ratnam spoke about the matter and supported Deepika. He said he felt happy that she is in a position where she can speak up for what she wants. According to him, her requests were not wrong and should be taken seriously, especially by filmmakers. Also read: Ileana D’Cruz Reveals the Real Reason She Couldn’t Join Raid 2.
Mani Ratnam said, “I think it’s a fair demand. I’m glad she can ask for it. As a director, you must consider such things when casting an actor, especially someone who is a new mother. It’s not an unfair demand—it’s necessary. We should understand it and try to adjust accordingly.”
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