The ongoing strike by Telugu film industry workers over wage hikes continues to disrupt shootings, with no breakthrough in sight. Despite multiple rounds of discussions between producers and the Film Federation leadership, the deadlock remains, keeping the strike as one of the hottest topics in Tollywood right now.
In a fresh attempt to resolve the issue, leading producers including Vivek Kuchibotla, Radha Mohan, and Mythri Movie Makers’ Cherry met to deliberate on the matter. They reiterated that they were not against the workers and were ready to discuss wage increases—provided the workers accepted four key proposals previously put forward.
According to the producers, workers had already agreed to two of these proposals back in 2022: allowing producers to hire any skilled professional regardless of union lists, and removing strict dancer-to-fighter ratio requirements during shoots. However, two other proposals remain contentious.
The first involves extending the permissible shooting call sheet beyond the existing 6am–6pm slot to also allow 9am–9pm schedules. The second concerns removing the provision for double call sheets on Sundays, except for the second Sunday of the month and government-declared holidays.
Tollywood producers argue that these adjustments are necessary to manage rising production costs while ensuring project schedules stay on track. They have urged the workers to consider the current financial realities of the industry and extend their cooperation to keep productions running smoothly.
While producers have expressed willingness to approve wage hikes under certain conditions, union leaders have firmly rejected any agreement that comes with such stipulations. Their stance has kept the strike active, halting numerous ongoing and planned shoots across the industry.
The stalemate highlights a growing tension between managing escalating budgets and ensuring fair compensation for workers. Unless both sides find a middle ground soon, the disruption threatens to delay major film releases and impact the industry’s momentum during a critical box office season.
With both camps holding their ground, all eyes are now on the next round of talks to see if Tollywood can end this costly stand-off.
