The growing obsession with mounting pan-India spectacles has become a risky gamble for Telugu producers.
While a handful of top-tier stars can pull audiences beyond traditional Telugu markets, most mid-range and even some leading stars struggle to generate comparable nationwide returns.
However, the bigger headache today is not just the pan-India ambition: it is prolonged shooting schedules and escalating budgets.
Take “The Paradise,” starring Nani and directed by Srikanth Odela. The film was initially planned for a March 2026 release.
Due to production delays and the director’s expansive vision, it has now reportedly been pushed to August 2026; a delay of nearly five months. Naturally, the extended schedule is expected to inflate the budget significantly.
Similarly, “Peddi” starring Ram Charan was first announced for March 26, later shifted to April 30. Industry circles now doubt whether it will meet even this revised date. Any further postponement could add substantial financial pressure on the producer.
A more alarming example is “The Raja Saab” featuring Prabhas. Initially conceived as a Rs 250 crore project, the film’s budget reportedly ballooned to nearly Rs 450 crore due to delays and overspending on production.
The result was a major box-office setback, with the producer said to have incurred losses of around Rs 250 crore. Had the film been completed within a tighter schedule and controlled budget, even a failure would have resulted in manageable losses.
The trend is not limited to these projects.
“Sambarala Yeti Gattu” starring Sai Dharam Tej and” Vrusha Karma” featuring Naga Chaitanya have also reportedly crossed their planned budgets.
Despite being in production for over a year and a half, both films are yet to be wrapped up. With each passing month, costs continue to mount.
By the time these films hit theatres, the financial burden on producers could grow even heavier. In an industry already navigating unpredictable box-office trends, uncontrolled delays and budget escalations are becoming the real stress factors.