Sandeep Reddy Vanga revealed how writing gaps, the pandemic and his preference for original storytelling led to Spirit with Prabhas. Rejecting a Hollywood remake, he said the film was born from a character-driven idea that instantly convinced the actor
Sandeep Reddy Vanga and Prabhas
Filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga has opened up about his creative journey behind Arjun Reddy, Kabir Singh, and Animal, while also revealing an interesting behind-the-scenes detail about how his much-anticipated collaboration with Prabhas, Spirit, came into being. In a candid conversation with Galatta India, the director spoke at length about writing struggles, the impact of the pandemic, and why he chose originality over a Hollywood remake.
On long gaps between his scripts
Reflecting on his past films, Vanga explained how long gaps and interruptions shaped his writing process. “I think that’s what happened with Arjun Reddy, Kabir Singh was a remake, and then the pandemic happened. Even Animal, I took one to one-and-a-half years to write. I took a lot of time because right after Arjun, I started Kabir, and even during Kabir, the thought of Animal was there,” he shared. He added that he never consciously thought of another story during that phase, but the pandemic created unexpected pauses. “We got breaks, so many breaks,” he said.
How did Prabhas bag Spirit?
During one such break, Vanga revealed that Prabhas had approached him with a project that did not eventually materialise. “In between one of the breaks, I was offered a film from Prabhas garu. This was before Animal,” he said, adding that the actor suggested a Hollywood remake. However, Vanga was clear about his creative preference. “He asked me, ‘If at all you are interested, there’s a Hollywood remake, let’s do it.’ I said it’s not working for me. An original thought will be great on you rather than doing a Hollywood remake,” he recalled.
The idea that would eventually become Spirit emerged organically during this phase. “I told him, ‘Anna, if something great strikes me, I’ll come and narrate it.’ Suddenly, something literally struck, and I called him, met him, and told him this is the title, this is the arena of the story, this is the character. He said, ‘That’s it, let’s do it,’” Vanga revealed.
He further explained how he retains creative ideas over long periods, even after immersing himself in other projects like Animal. “Me and my brother have one common group, and me and my wife have another. I keep sending ideas there, sometimes I email them to myself,” he said. But for Vanga, notes are secondary to character. “More than all this, what holds you is the character power. When you think about that guy in Spirit, that draws me more than the plot,” he explained.
Emphasising his storytelling philosophy, Vanga concluded, “For me, it’s always the character that drives the plot, not the plot that drives the character.” This consistent focus on intense, character-driven narratives continues to define his films, and sets expectations high for Spirit.
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