2.0: Half Budget Spent On Salaries

Super Star Rajinikanth and Bollywood Star Akshay Kumar’s visual extravaganza 2.0 made of Rs 530 Cr budget has collected nearly Rs 550 Cr gross worldwide till date. The Shankar directed film is faring remarkably well in USA and other foreign countries and it is minting big numbers in North states in India as well. However, 2.0 has slowed down in southern states. In Telugu states, 2.0 is doing steady business in Nizam, whereas it is not up to the mark in Andhra and Ceded. It is likely to end as a loss venture there owing to huge investments.

Rajamouli directed Baahubali was a visual wonder made on a huge budget of Rs 250 crores (two parts). Thankfully, the film got extreme positive everywhere and it had dream run at box office for 50 days. All the artists and technicians were given double remuneration for spending five years. Still, the film’s budget didn’t exceed.

Coming to 2.0, the film’s estimated budget was Rs 400 crores. But, when the first print was ready, its budget nearly increased by one and half times. The reason as we all know is delay in post-production works and also due to enormous CG shots.

We hear that, nearly half of budget was spent on remunerations of the actor. The producers have even gave additional payment to the artists and technicians as the film’s release got delayed. Rajinikanth is said to have paid nearly 100 to 120 crores, wherein Akshay Kumar’s remuneration is Rs 50 to 60 crores. Shankar’s salary is 40 crores and Amy Jackson is paid whopping Rs 5 crores. Overall, salaries of all the artists and technicians cost around Rs 250 crores for the producers.

As per a buzz, Shankar is getting Rs 40 crore remuneration for Indian 2 (Bharateeyudu 2) as well. Dil Raju who was supposed to produce the film had backed out when Shankar demanded the above said payment, although he was ready to pay Rs 40 Cr pay for hero Kamal Haasan.

Analysts say that, hike in pays is what causing increase in budget and it has become tough task for producers and buyers recovering their investments at box office.