Excerpt: Allu Aravind, a prominent figure in Telugu cinema, discussed the contentious issue of star heroes’ remuneration and its impact on rising movie costs. He asserted that only a modest 20 to 25 percent of a film’s budget is dedicated to paying star heroes and emphasized that their salaries are not the primary cause of escalating production expenses. According to Allu Aravind, audiences today demand big and grand productions, irrespective of the hero’s status. He cited the example of KGF, a film that turned a relatively unknown hero into a star due to its grand scale. Furthermore, he revealed that two major Geetha Arts projects are experiencing delays for reasons unrelated to hero remuneration.
The topic of star heroes’ pay has been a hot topic for a while. As the cost of making movies continues to rise, there’s a belief that a significant portion of that cost goes to paying star heroes. Allu Aravind, a prominent producer in Telugu cinema, challenged this notion during an event.
When asked why major banners like Geetha Arts are hesitant to produce big-budget films, Allu Aravind summed it up in one word: “Cost.” However, when questioned about whether the increasing remuneration of heroes contributes to the rising costs of movies, Allu Aravind had a different perspective.
Allu Aravind explained that only 20 to 25 percent of a movie’s budget is allocated to paying star heroes. He believes that their pay isn’t the primary factor increasing costs; instead, they act in movies with substantial budgets. He also noted that audiences prefer big, grand productions, regardless of the hero’s stature.
To illustrate his point, Allu Aravind mentioned the film KGF, where the hero wasn’t a star before the movie but the production was grand, resulting in it becoming a blockbuster. Additionally, Allu Aravind mentioned that two major Geetha Arts productions are facing delays for reasons other than hero remuneration.
