Das CH
Das CH
The ticket price hikes for star hero projects began with Prabhas’s Baahubali franchise, directed by SS Rajamouli, and have since continued with the multi-starrer project RRR, starring Jr NTR and Ram Charan, also directed by Rajamouli. The prices soared to almost ₹500 per ticket, which was understandable given the multi-starrer aspect and Rajamouli’s reputation. However, this trend has now extended to every star hero project, with ticket prices rising considerably.
While filmmakers argue that these are “larger-than-life” projects, involving immense effort and expensive shoots, for audiences, it’s still just a 3-hour film. These escalating ticket prices have become a headache for the middle class, making it difficult for many to afford a theatre experience.
This is one of the key reasons why OTT platforms have become more preferable to audiences, who would rather wait for a digital release than spend heavily in theatres. From the filmmakers’ perspective, actor remunerations and budgets, which increasingly rely on high-end technical aspects, have forced them to compensate through higher ticket prices. Additionally, the fact that star heroes are making fewer films each year has further complicated the situation.
With Jr NTR’s upcoming film Devara, directed by Koratala Siva (who is hoping for a comeback after the setback of Acharya), the makers are once again quoting high ticket prices. It seems clear that when it comes to star hero projects, ticket price hikes have become the norm. Only time will tell how long this trend will continue.
