Matka one step forward, two steps backward. Varun Tej, known for his hits like "Fidaa," "Tholi Prema," and "F2," seemed to be on a promising trajectory in his career. However, in the past two years, his films have faced disappointing results, impacting his fan following and market value. Despite this, his recent film "F3" has received slightly better reception.
His solo ventures like "Ghani," "Gaddalakonda Ganesh," and "Operation Valentine" have all underperformed, leading to a decline in his popularity. The film "Matka," which Varun planned during the making of "Operation Valentine," has faced several hurdles from the start.
Initially budgeted at around 60 crores, the film faced challenges due to the fluctuating digital market, with producers considering reducing the budget to 40 crores. However, Varun's recent string of failures has raised doubts about the film's potential even at the reduced budget. Additionally, one of the production partners, Vaira Entertainments, has backed out, leaving Mohan Cherukuri as the sole producer, who is now seeking another partner to share the risk.
The combination of Varun's market downturn, uncertainties about director Karun Kumar's commercial filmmaking skills, and production challenges has cast a shadow over the fate of "Matka." The future of the film remains uncertain, pending resolution of these obstacles.