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Currently, the dispute between director Sandeep Reddy Vanga and Bollywood’s top actress Deepika Padukone is in the news in the cinema world. The issue that started regarding the casting of the female lead in Prabhas starrer upcoming mega budget action drama film ‘Spirit’ has now reached personal statements and social media debate. According to reports, earlier talks were going on with Deepika Padukone for the film ‘Spirit’. It is said that Deepika had set some conditions for this project like huge fees as well as profit sharing and limited working hours (8 hour shifts), because she is the mother of a small child and wanted to strike a balance between her family and work.
The talks did not pan out and Deepika walked away from the project, after which the role went to Trupti Dimri. The controversy deepened when some sharp taunts were made by Sandeep Reddy Vanga and his production camp on social media and in interviews without taking names. Vanga expressed her displeasure, accusing her of breaking the ‘unspoken NDA’ (confidentiality rule), leaking the story and letting down a young artiste. At the same time, Deepika’s supporters say that any artist has the full right to decide his fees and working conditions and rejecting a project is not a crime.
Why suddenly remembered the old dispute between Sridevi and SS Rajamouli?
The tension between Deepika and Vanga has made cinephiles and social media users think of veteran late actress Sridevi and blockbuster director S.S. Reminded me of Rajamouli’s old controversy. Audiences and film analysts are questioning whether whenever an established female superstar rejects a big South Indian project or a director’s offer due to her own conditions, it is portrayed in a negative light by the directors.
This entire matter is related to the 2015 historical film ‘Baahubali: The Beginning’. When Rajamouli was casting his pan-India film, he first approached national superstar Sridevi for the historical and powerful character of Rajmata ‘Shivgami Devi’. However, a consensus could not be reached between the two parties and later this iconic character was played by actress Ramya Krishnan, who was highly appreciated by the audience.
The truth about Shivgami’s character and alleged demands in ‘Baahubali’
When Sridevi did not become a part of ‘Baahubali’, Rajamouli made some such revelations in an interview to a Telugu TV channel which created a sensation throughout Bollywood and Tollywood. Rajamouli had claimed that Sridevi had asked for a fee of Rs 8 to 10 crore for this role, an entire floor of a five star hotel for herself, 10 business-class flight tickets for the team and a share in the film’s profit.
Not only this, the director even said that it was lucky for him and the film that Sridevi did not accept this role, because Ramya Krishnan did much better justice to this character. After this public statement of Rajamouli, many negative reports started being published in the media regarding Sridevi’s alleged “excessive demands”.
Sridevi was deeply hurt by Rajamouli’s statements
At that time, Sridevi was extremely shocked and hurt by Rajamouli’s public comments. When the media asked him questions on this controversy during the promotion of his film ‘MOM’, he answered openly while maintaining his dignity. Sridevi had said that she has spent 50 years in the film industry and has worked in more than 300 films. If she had made such unreasonable and unprofessional demands, she would not have been able to maintain a successful position in the industry for so long.
Sridevi had also clarified that she had great respect for Rajamouli as a great filmmaker and was excited to work with him after watching his film ‘Eega’ (The Fly). But he was deeply saddened by the way the director went on a public platform and distorted personal matters related to finances and casting. Later, Rajamouli himself admitted his mistake and expressed regret, saying that he should not have discussed the details of any artist’s remuneration or negotiations on a public platform.
Is there a dual attitude towards the conditions of actresses in the film industry?
Many similarities are being found in the cases of Deepika-Vanga and Sridevi-Rajamouli. In today’s digital era, cine lovers and critics are arguing that when a male superstar demands a fee of Rs 100 to 150 crore for a film, huge profit sharing or a shooting schedule as per his convenience, then it is considered his stardom and his right. But when the same demands or conditions are put forward by an established female artist on the basis of her convenience, motherhood or market value, it is termed as ‘ego’, ‘tantrums’ or ‘impractical demands’.
Experts believe that professional boundaries and scope of respect in cinema should be equal for both parties. When the casting process of a film cannot be completed, both parties should maintain mutual confidentiality and not criticize each other publicly. This is why amidst the ‘Spirit’ controversy, the old case of Sridevi and Rajamouli has once again become the center of a big debate on social media regarding gender equality and professional decorum.