RGV says Telugu cinema runs on flops, not hits

The Story in Brief

Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma says the Telugu film industry stays afloat on flop movies, not hits, because budget overruns from mismanagement circulate money to daily-wage workers, while hit profits stay with stars and producers. He told Times of India that Tollywood lacks genuine producers, only investors who cannot enforce discipline once shooting starts. He contrasted this with Bollywood's post-pandemic shift to fixed budgets and corporate oversight.

Varma called for stricter financial accountability from directors and a hands-on producer who controls costs at every stage. He cited examples of actors being paid despite not having shot. His comments come amid recurring reports of Tollywood projects running into crores of losses due to delayed schedules and unplanned expenses.