The Telugu film industry is in a financial bind, even as mid-range heroes continue to demand Rs 8 to 9 crore per film.
One such actor has three projects lined up — two nearly finished and one pending — but none have attracted OTT buyers. Satellite deals are already hard to come by, and Hindi rights, once reliable, are no longer moving.
One of these films was made on a budget of Rs 40 crore, but theatrical rights are valued at only Rs 15 crore, with no takers yet.
Producers are hoping to recover the remaining Rs 25 crore through non-theatrical avenues, but that seems doubtful. A fallout with one OTT platform has led to new negotiations with another, but nothing is final.
Another project of the same hero, is pegged at Rs 25 to Rs 30 crore. The producer of this film is trying to sell it as a package along with a bigger, high-profile film. Thanks to its genre appeal, there’s some hope of finding buyers.
A third film has been dragging on for quite a long time. Its producer is clearly under pressure, but he too is banking on a larger film in his kitty to help close a bundled deal.
These cases raise an important question- should only the producers with major projects in hand can sell their other films as a package deal? Meanwhile, hero remuneration remains unaffected.
And this is not about one actor — most Tollywood stars are following the same unsustainable pattern.