Dil Raju Urges Directors to Follow Rajamouli’s Profit-Sharing Model
The debate arose when Mohanlal and Prithviraj Sukumaran revealed that they had waived their remuneration for L2: Empuraan, opting instead for a profit-sharing model;
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2025-03-23 11:08 GMT
Leading producer Dil Raju, who is bringing the Malayalam film L2: Empuraan to Telugu states, sparked an interesting discussion at a recent press meet in Hyderabad. The debate arose when Mohanlal and Prithviraj Sukumaran revealed that they had waived their remuneration for L2: Empuraan, opting instead for a profit-sharing model.
When asked if such a model could work in Tollywood, Dil Raju responded, “Rajamouli follows a profit-sharing basis and never charges upfront remuneration for his films. Prashanth Neel is also working on a similar structure now. I believe this model will soon become more common in Telugu cinema. I initially implemented this with Game Changer, bringing Shankar and Ram Charan on board for a profit-sharing plan, intending to wrap the film within a year on a strict budget. However, as the shoot got delayed, Shankar and Ram Charan eventually opted to take their remuneration.”
A veteran producer, however, remains skeptical about this approach becoming mainstream in Tollywood. “Our big stars and directors are used to hefty paychecks and advances, making it difficult to implement a profit-sharing system. With superstars charging between ₹75-125 crore per film and directors commanding ₹25-50 crore, sharing profits might work, but the idea of entirely forgoing a paycheck is unlikely. Unlike Rajamouli, most stars and directors prefer to leave the financial risks to producers rather than sharing potential losses,” he explained.
While Rajamouli’s model has proven successful, it remains to be seen whether Tollywood’s top-tier talent will embrace the shift from fixed payments to shared stakes in success.
