Prabhas fans received a major New Year surprise when actress Triptii Dimri unveiled the first poster of Spirit, the much-awaited film directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga. Sharing the poster on social media, Triptii captioned it, “Kicking off the New Year with the first poster of #Spirit.” The post instantly grabbed attention and triggered a storm of reactions online.
The poster showcases Prabhas in a raw, intense avatar visibly bruised, sporting scars and bandages, holding a bottle of liquor with a cigarette hanging from his lips. Triptii Dimri stands close to him, lighting the cigarette, adding to the gritty and provocative mood of the image. The bold visual immediately became a talking point across platforms.
On one side, fans of the Baahubali star were thrilled to see what many called the “return of vintage Prabhas.” Social media was flooded with comments like “Return of the long hair!”, “This poster screams blockbuster,” and “Prabhas looks fierce and in top form.” Many praised the edgy tone and felt the poster hinted at a powerful, massy entertainer.
However, not everyone was impressed. A section of netizens quickly began drawing comparisons between Spirit and Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s previous films, Kabir Singh and Animal. Critics pointed out familiar elements the wounded protagonist, alcohol, cigarettes, long hair, and a dominant male persona questioning whether the director is repeating his own template.
Some users sarcastically commented that the look felt “recycled,” while others joked that the poster seemed like a mash-up of Vanga’s past blockbusters. Trolls also questioned the portrayal of masculinity and the repeated “tough guy” aesthetic that has become synonymous with the filmmaker’s work.
Interestingly, a few sharp-eyed viewers took the discussion in a different direction by linking the poster to a scene from the recent hit Dhurandhar. They suggested that the cigarette-lighting moment resembled Akshaye Khanna’s character Rehman Daikait and his wife in the film, claiming Spirit may have drawn visual inspiration from it. Some even argued that imitation is a form of admiration, hinting that Vanga might have been influenced by Dhurandhar’s impactful imagery.
Despite the mixed reactions, one thing is clear — Spirit has already succeeded in generating massive buzz. With Prabhas’ intense new avatar and Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s controversial storytelling style, expectations are sky-high. Whether Spirit will break new ground or revisit familiar territory remains to be seen, but for now, the poster has ensured that the film stays firmly in the spotlight.