Veteran producer Ravi Shankar, known for backing some of Tollywood’s biggest blockbusters, recently opened up in an interview about the burning topic that keeps every producer awake at night – star remunerations. While headlines often scream about the astronomical fees of Mahesh Babu, Allu Arjun, and Ram Charan, the reality on the ground is far more nuanced and surprisingly heartening.

The Eye-Popping Numbers Everyone Talks About

There’s no denying the figures are massive. Top Telugu heroes today command anywhere between ₹80–150 crore per film, sometimes even more with profit-sharing clauses. When a single actor’s paycheck eats up 60–70 % of the total budget, producers naturally feel the heat – especially when theatrical revenues have become unpredictable post-pandemic.

Yet, according to Ravi Shankar, the narrative that stars are “bleeding producers dry” is only half the story.

The Empathy Behind the Glamour

“What people don’t see,” Shankar explains, “is how understanding our top stars have become.” He reveals that Mahesh Babu, Allu Arjun, and Ram Charan routinely agree to staggered payments, sometimes waiting months or even over a year to collect their full remuneration. In several cases, they’ve voluntarily shifted to profit-sharing models where a significant chunk of their fee is tied to the film’s final collections.

“This isn’t charity,” Shankar clarifies with a laugh. “They know if the film sinks, everyone loses – including their own market value. So they’re protecting their own brand as much as they’re helping the producer.”

A New Era of Discipline on Sets

Another welcome change, he points out, is the growing discipline in shooting schedules. Gone are the days when a superstar film would drag on for two-three years with endless combination scenes and last-minute date issues.

“Today, Allu Arjun wraps Pushpa 2 schedules like clockwork. Ram Charan gave 180 straight days for Game Changer. Even Mahesh, who used to take his own sweet time earlier, finished Guntur Kaaram and his next with SS Rajamouli in record time. This efficiency directly brings down interest costs and overheads,” Shankar emphasises.

The Road Ahead: Smarter Budgets, Smarter Stars

The producer believes Tollywood is finally maturing. With OTT platforms no longer throwing blank cheques and theatrical windows shrinking, the industry can’t afford ₹300–400 crore experiments unless the content truly justifies it.

Stars seem to have internalised this reality. Many are now open to reasonable caps on upfront fees in exchange for healthy backend profits – a win-win that keeps ambitious projects alive without bankrupting the maker.

Final Word from a Grateful Producer

Ravi Shankar sums it up beautifully: “Yes, they earn in crores. But they also carry the weight of crores on their shoulders. When the chips are down, our stars have shown they’re willing to stand with the producer – not just pose beside him on the poster.”

In an industry often criticised for its extravagance, stories like these remind us that beneath the larger-than-life personas, Mahesh Babu, Allu Arjun, and Ram Charan are proving to be partners in progress for Telugu cinema’s sustainable future.

Read Also: Deepika Padukone’s Sister Anisha Engaged to Businessman Rohan Acharya, Uniting Film Families

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