Mumbai/IBNS: Indian filmmaker Mani Ratnam has backed Bollywood superstar Deepika Padukone over the controversy triggered by her exit from Sandeep Reddy Vanga's upcoming Hindi film Spirit.

Deepika, a reigning queen of the Hindi film industry, reportedly opted out of Spirit after some of her demands were not met by the makers.

As per reports, Deepika, who has embraced motherhood recently, refused to work beyond eight hours a day, charged a huge remuneration, demanded a profit-sharing clause and declined delivering dialogues in Telugu.

While a section of netizens lauded Deepika, some called her "unprofessional".

But Mani Ratnam, whose Thug Life is due for release, has come out in support of the 'Pathaan' actress.

"I think it is a rightful demand," Ratnam told News 18.

"I'm glad she’s in a position to ask for it. I think as a filmmaker, you will take that into consideration when you cast. It is not an unreasonable thing to ask, but an absolute necessity. I think that should be the priority. You have to acknowledge that, understand it and work around it," he added.

After Deepika walked out of the film, Sandeep roped in his 'Animal' actress Triptii Dimri, a rising actress in B-Town, at a cheaper rate.

Some reports claim Triptii has been offered Rs. 4 crore while others claim she bagged the deal at Rs. 6 crore.

The controversy took an ugly turn when Sandeep, whose Animal traded massive numbers in the box office in 2023, made a cryptic X post which netizens think was targeted at Deepika.

In the post, Sandeep accused the unnamed person of breaching trust by leaking the film's storyline, playing dirty PR games and putting down young actress Triptii.

His exact words read, ""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 !"

'Most of the honest filmmakers fine with 8-hour shift for new moms': Ajay Devgn

Senior Bollywood actor Ajay Devgn has said "most of the honest filmmakers" won't have problem with new mothers' demand to work not beyond eight hours a day, amid the row over Spirit.

Ajay Devgn and Kajol were at a press conference for the latter's upcoming film, Maa.

When she was asked about how she views new mothers' demand to work for eight hours, Kajol said she "loves the fact" of working less.

Interrupting Kajol's answer, Ajay said, "It's not that it is not going down well with people. A lot of people understand. Most of the honest filmmakers I would say will not have a problem with it.

"Apart from new moms working for eight hours, usually people have started working eight-nine hours in a shift. So I think it varies from person to person and most of the industry does understand this."