The elections are over, but people's attention is still not on movies. Cricket and election results are taking the spotlight.
Despite this, movie production continues, and almost every hero has a film in the works.
However, six heroes are without a project, signaling that the situation in Tollywood is not very promising.
Three main reasons contribute to this scenario-
- Rising remunerations and production costs
- Declining theater audiences for small and medium films
- Slump in digital sales.
Heroes are not willing to reduce their fees, with none earning less than two crores. Small and mid-range heroes demand between three crores to thirty crores.
Yet, a hero earning three crores doesn't have a theater market worth that much, even when combining Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
The production costs range from twelve to fifteen crores, raising the question of whether the remaining ten crores can be recovered from non-theater sources.
In such times, the only hope is for the movie to be a blockbuster. If a small film succeeds, the profits can be substantial.
However, such successes are rare, with only occasional hits like "Jathi Ratnalu" "Baby" and "Tillu Square" Unfortunately, 99% of small and medium films have incurred losses over the past year leaving producers struggling.
Unable to branch out into other businesses, producers continue making movies with the heroes they can find, but these heroes have limited market appeal. Despite consecutive flops, even senior heroes refuse to lower their budgets.
Mid-range heroes are not willing to settle for less than ten crores resulting in significant financial losses.
There are around ten heroes with fees ranging from one crore to thirteen crores, and it is estimated that ninety percent of them will face career breaks after this year.
Already, six heroes are out of work. A nearly completed project featuring a hero with a ten crore fee remains unsold without a release date.
Two or three films are being planned with a hero who previously boasted about having a Hindi market, causing frustration among producers. One of these films is progressing very slowly.
A senior hero’s film is almost completed, but lacks a release date due to poor sales prospects.
A small hero insists on only taking on projects with a KGF-level story.
Another hero is making films with his relatives, resulting in losses for everyone involved. Rumors suggest that his career is nearly over.
A correction is urgently needed. Heroes should be the first to reduce their fees and consider profit-sharing models.
Character actors should follow suit. Directors need to plan their projects meticulously to reduce production costs. Only then can the industry control expenses.
If these changes are not made, the demand for actors will decline, forcing many heroes to get into premature retirement. Industry veterans warn that this time is not far off.