Karthi's Tollywood market diminishing. Tamil star Karthi's popularity in the Telugu states appears to have waned in the wake of disappointing films like 'Sultan' and 'Viruman,' resulting in his latest dubbed offering, 'Japan,' reportedly fetching a meager Rs 3 crore from the Telugu states.
"At first, the Tamil producers sought a hefty Rs 6 crore for the Telugu dubbing rights, but the Telugu distributors were apprehensive about investing such a significant amount in Karthi, given the lukewarm response to his recent solo-hero movies among Telugu audiences. Following negotiations, the rights were eventually secured by Annapoorna Studios for Rs 3 crore," a source reveals.
In the past, Karthi had achieved immense success in the Telugu states with films like 'Awara,' 'Khakhi,' and 'Kaithi,' which catapulted him to a market value of Rs 12 crore. However, his standing took a hit after the underwhelming performance of movies like 'Sultan,' 'Chinna Babu,' 'Donga,' and 'Palasapudi Veerababu,' causing his popularity to dwindle. Even his highly-anticipated role in 'Ponniyin Selvan' as 'Vandiya Devan' couldn't revive his Telugu market, as it was perceived as a multi-starrer project," the source adds.
With his upcoming film 'Japan,' a lively entertainer that combines family drama, action, and a generous dose of entertainment, the stakes are high for Karthi to make a strong comeback in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. "Recently, Rajinikanth and Vijay managed to make an impact in the Telugu states with 'Jailer' and 'Leo,' respectively. Now, it's Karthi's turn to deliver a significant hit; otherwise, his market might further decline," the source concludes.