When Yash Raj Films (YRF) announced the casting of NTR alongside Hrithik Roshan in “War 2,” the decision raised eyebrows.
Many questioned why a top Telugu star like NTR would play a non-solo lead in a Bollywood film, and others wondered why YRF needed another big star when Hrithik Roshan was already headlining the project.
However, both YRF and NTR seem to have made smart business moves.
Reports suggest NTR was paid Rs 60 crore for his Hindi debut. It is a significant paycheck, especially since he isn’t playing the sole lead.
Interestingly, this figure is slightly higher than Hrithik Roshan’s reported remuneration of Rs 50 crore. From NTR’s perspective, it’s a strategic choice: a high-profile Bollywood debut with a strong paycheck.
For YRF, the move has paid off handsomely. The studio reportedly sold the Telugu theatrical rights to producer Naga Vamsi for Rs 80 crore.
After deducting NTR’s Rs 60 crore remuneration, YRF is already sitting on a Rs 20 crore profit from the Telugu market alone — even before the film's release.
Interestingly, NTR enjoys a strong market in the USA. If he can contribute an additional Rs 10 crore (or $2 million gross) to the overall overseas collections of War 2, it would translate into a neat Rs 30 crore profit for YRF.
Had YRF opted to cast another Bollywood actor instead of NTR, they likely wouldn’t have been able to tap into the lucrative Telugu market at this scale.
The decision to bring NTR onboard has clearly proven to be a profitable one on both sides.
