Usually, even big-budget Bollywood films are either self-distributed or given to local distributors in Telugu states at standard rates. But when a South Indian star is involved, things change.
Take Adipurush, for instance — its Telugu rights were sold for a whopping ₹120 crore. Now, War 2, starring Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR, seems to be heading in the same direction.
Slated for release on August 15, War 2 features Jr NTR in a prominent role with action sequences, songs, and dance numbers — factors that have built significant hype among Telugu audiences. This has sparked a bidding war for the Telugu distribution rights.
Producer Naga Vamsi, who is already close to NTR and is planning a film with him and Nelson, is aggressively pursuing the deal — reportedly with NTR’s backing, especially after he supported the release of Devara.
On the other hand, Asian Cinemas’ Sunil Narang is also in the race. The buzz is that the Telugu rights might touch ₹120 crore. But whether such a price is justifiable is still debatable.
Devara, a straight Telugu film, was sold in Telugu states for around ₹120 crore. Some territories included GST, others varied slightly.
In contrast, War 2 is a dubbed Hindi film. NTR might not be the sole lead — Hrithik Roshan shares the spotlight. While NTR’s fanbase will drive openings, how well the general Telugu audience receives it remains uncertain.
Given its action genre, some buyers may take the risk. With strong competition, it’ll be interesting to see how high producers are willing to go. The deal might close in a day or two.
