Some NRI producers entered Tollywood with hopes, passion and a genuine desire to make good films. Their intentions were sincere and their enthusiasm was real.
For a while, they did manage to make some notable movies. But eventually, most of them slowed down or stepped away from production. Why did this happen, and who are they?
There are several such figures, but let us focus on three prominent names- PVP, Anil Sunkara and TG Vishwa Prasad.
Potluri V. Prasad, popularly known as PVP, came from the United States and entered the industry around 2011.
He also had a long innings in Tamil cinema, producing films in collaboration with other banners as well. In Telugu, he backed several tasteful and notable films.
However, after 2022, he appears to have wrapped up his active production journey, even though he collaborated with other banners. At present, he shows little interest in producing new films.
Anil Sunkara is another producer who began his journey in 2010. Over the years, he produced many films, including major successes like Dookudu, Legend, and Sarileru Neekevvaru.
These were the films that truly brought him significant gains. However, many of his other productions failed to generate returns. He suffered huge losses with Maha Samudram, Agent, and Bhola Shankar.
His latest production came in January 2026 with Nari Nari Naduma Murari. However, he appears to have slowed down considerably and has become far more cautious and selective.
Then there is TG Vishwa Prasad, a Seattle based NRI who entered Tollywood with big hopes and ambitions. While he has produced some successful films, the scale of his failures and financial setbacks appears to outweigh the gains.
The common thread among these three producers is that their losses seem to have outweighed their profits. Eventually, they realized that film production is far more complex and risky than it appears.
In today’s industry, the producer often bears the biggest burden. Star heroes and directors command enormous fees and privileges, and production costs continue to rise. In many cases, the producer ends up absorbing the financial shock when films fail.
One might ask why producers do not operate with the firm discipline of old time stalwarts. The reality is that today’s star system does not encourage that approach.
Many leading actors and directors prefer producers who are willing to accommodate their demands and invest heavily.
In the end, these three producers did render significant service to the industry, even if it came at the cost of heavy personal losses.
Well, will it teach any lesson to anyone? No, the new water comes in and boils, until it feels the heat of evaporation point.