In Tollywood, the film budgets are skyrocketing, mainly due to overhead costs. Recently, there’s been buzz about a young actor making outlandish demands. This actor has insisted that producers foot the bill for his vanity van during shoots. But it’s not just any van; he wants four premium ones!
Firstly, he wants one for his personal time, rightly called ‘Me Time.’ Secondly, there’s another for meetings with other industry folks. The third one is for his gym sessions during breaks. Each van costs around Rs 50,000 per day. With shooting periods lasting between 75 to 100 days on average, the total cost for these vans alone amounts to a staggering Rs 1.25 crore, on top of his acting fees!
But that’s not all; there’s a fourth van – an exclusive food truck with a chef from a 5-star hotel. This luxury comes at a hefty price of Rs 1 lakh per day, totaling Rs 70 lakh for the entire shoot duration. To put things in perspective, this is often more than what many writers are paid for scripting a whole film.
These demands not only strain the budgets but also disrupt the film’s economic balance, forcing compromises in other areas of production. While vanity, grooming, and food are essential, burdening producers with excessive luxury demands beyond acting fees is concerning.
These escalating overhead costs shed light on why films end up going over budget, even when it’s not evident in the final product. It’s a reality check for the industry, prompting reflection on the sustainability and fairness of such demands. Ultimately, striking a balance between necessary expenses and extravagant requests is crucial for the health of the industry and the successful execution of film projects.
