Tollywood Actors Requested To Lower Their Fees
Nayantara not considered for a project as her fee is high and non-negotiable
The Telugu film industry is facing a slowdown following a string of box-office failures in 2025. In response, producers are urging A-list actors — many of whom command double and even triple-digit fees in crores — to voluntarily rein in their remunerations.
One of the major big-budget films that underperformed last year was Akhanda 2. The aftershocks of that costly failure continue to be felt into 2026. Director Gopichand Malineni, who had earlier announced a lavish costume drama starring Nandamuri Balakrishna and Nayanthara, has since revised his plans. Malineni will now make another film with Balakrishna on a significantly scaled-down budget, and the project will no longer feature Nayanthara.
A source close to the development said, “Nayanthara was signed for the project with Nandamuri Balakrishna to be directed by Gopichand Malineni. However, the project has now been reworked to fit a more modest budget. The producers can no longer afford Nayanthara. Her fee is Rs 10 crore, and it is non-negotiable.”
