Telangana Film Chamber secretary slams sky-high hero fees

Telangana State Film Chamber of Commerce Secretary B. Sridhar has ignited controversy with blunt criticism of Tollywood’s top actors over soaring remunerations and sluggish project timelines.

He also accused a group of producers and directors of misleading the industry regarding the recent proposal for a theater bandh. His remarks came during a press conference on June 7, following the election of the chamber’s new leadership, with Suniel Narang appointed unopposed as president.

Hero’s business is Rs 2 Cr, remuneration 13 Cr!

Sridhar pointed to the mounting financial strain on producers, driven by escalating actor fees. “Earlier, leading actors would do two films a year; now they take two years for one film — and charge exorbitantly,” he said.

He cited an instance where a major hero’s recent film grossed under Rs 2 crore worldwide, yet the star is still being offered Rs 13 crore for upcoming projects. Sridhar warned that such unsustainable practices are pushing producers into losses and threatening the long-term viability of the Telugu film industry.

Never called for bandh!

Addressing the controversy around the proposed theater bandh — initially planned from June 1 amid disputes over revenue sharing and ticket pricing — Sridhar clarified that the Telangana Film Chamber had never supported the shutdown. He alleged that two producers and two directors had engineered the bandh narrative, misleading industry stakeholders, including Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, whose much-awaited film Hari Hara Veera Mallu was at risk of disruption.

 “We demanded a percentage-based revenue model, not a bandh,” Sridhar asserted, adding that the chamber had issued no official statement or letter backing the closure. He hinted at revealing the identities of those responsible, promising a “return gift” in due course.

Following discussions within the Film Chamber involving exhibitors, distributors, and producers, the bandh proposal was postponed indefinitely to safeguard upcoming major releases such as “Thug Life” and Hari Hara Veera Mallu.

Exhibitors agreed to refrain from any shutdown to avoid further disruption. Sridhar’s statements echoed sentiments expressed earlier by industry stalwarts like Dil Raju, who called the bandh talk “a miscommunication blown out of proportion,” and Allu Aravind, who lamented the industry’s lack of unity.

As the Telugu film industry grapples with these challenges, Sridhar’s forthright remarks have sharpened focus on the need for systemic reforms.