Blockbuster director Prasanth Varma, who recently delivered the pan-India hit HanuMan, is now at the centre of a major industry controversy, facing a united front of producers demanding either his time or their money back, according to Telugu360’s post on X.
The sensation, dubbed the ‘Producers’ War’ Against Director Prasanth Varma, stems from the filmmaker’s overwhelming success, following which he allegedly accepted massive advances for multiple upcoming projects.
The core of the ₹100 crore crisis
Following the nationwide success of HanuMan, Prasanth Varma’s name became a premium brand, guaranteeing a high-quality, pan-India release. This led to a scramble among top production houses to secure his next directorial venture.
- The Commitment overload: Varma reportedly signed on and received advances from approximately ten producers, leading to announcements for major films, including collaborations with top stars like Prabhas and Rishab Shetty. It is safe to assume that his schedule for the next five years is fully booked.
- The Financial figure: The total advance payments collected by the director are reportedly between ₹80 and ₹100 crore according to Telugu360.
- Big names involved: The list of producers includes industry heavyweights such as Mythri Movie Makers, Hombale Films, Niranjan Reddy, Sudhakar Cherukuri, and DVV Danayya.
Prasanth Varma’s compromise rejected by producers
The inevitable logistical dilemma, how to direct ten films simultaneously, has now hit a breaking point. The director reportedly offered only to provide the story and supervise the direction for some projects. However, the producers allegedly rejected it, demanding his personal, full-time direction for the films for which they paid advances. Some of them are also demanding the full advance payment back immediately.
Advance money linked to Prasanth’s new Hyderabad studio
The situation has been complicated by the director’s significant investment shortly after his film’s triumph.
Telugu360, in its post on X, revealed that Prasanth Varma has allegedly invested the entire advance amount, along with his personal HanuMan earnings, into procuring land and establishing a new, state-of-the-art studio and office in Hyderabad.
- The Dilemma: With the colossal sum now converted into an immovable asset (the studio infrastructure), refunding the ₹80–100 crore advance has become financially impossible for the young director.
- Industry action: The group of producers is reportedly preparing to take the first formal step by filing a complaint against Prasanth Varma with the Producers’ Council (Chamber) for financial and professional misconduct, escalating the dispute into a full-blown industry crisis.
The film industry is watching closely to see how this ambitious director navigates the storm of financial commitments and the high stakes of his newfound fame.
