There is no denying the fact that Pushpa: The Rise was one of the biggest blockbusters of Indian cinema in 2021. The Telugu-language film did not only fare phenomenally well down south, but it also surprised everyone with its thunderous performance in the Hindi belt where its dobbed version went on to rake in over ₹100 crores.
Before Pushpa: The Rise, the term “pan-India star” was mostly used for Baahubali star Prabhas, but the riotous success of the Sukumar directorial led to the rise of another pan-India star, Allu Arjun.
The makers of Pushpa: The Rise had planned the film as a duology from the onset. The work on the second installment of the film, which is titled Pushpa: The Rule, commenced months after the release of Pushpa: The Rise.
The latest we hear is that looking at his pan-India popularity, Allu Arjun is demanding a hefty paycheque of approximately ₹100 crores for Pushpa: The Rule. An online publication reports that the superstar has increased his fees for the sequel and has demanded ₹90 crores from the makers, which is double of what he received for the first installment of the franchise.
According to reports, Allu Arjun took home around ₹30-40 crores for Pushpa: The Rise. On the other hand, director Sukumar was paid approximately ₹18 crores for the first part. We also hear that not only Allu Arjun, but Sukumar has also demanded a hike in his remuneration. He is probably charging around ₹40 crores to helm the sequel.
Interestingly, the makers have no issues with their demands and have reportedly agreed to pay them what they are demanding. This has reportedly taken the budget of the film to ₹350 crores. But looking at how eagerly the audience is waiting for Pushpa: The Rule, we can expect the sequel to do massive business and leave every stakeholder in profit.
Keep visiting this space over and again for more updates and reveals from the world of entertainment.
The actress defended her claim that acting demands more than desk jobs in a recent interview.
She said office workers can "chill out" during work hours, unlike film stars.
Fans and working professionals called her comments privileged and out of touch.
The backlash started after her appearance on Amazon Prime's Two Much with Kajol & Twinkle.
Critics pointed out the financial gap and support systems actors have compared to regular employees.
Kajol probably didn't expect this reaction when she sat down with Twinkle Khanna on Two Much. But her comments about actors working harder than people with 9-to-5 jobs have blown up, and not in a good way.
Fans slam Kajol after she says actors work harder than regular employees sparking online outrage Getty Images
The comments that started it all
Kajol was speaking out about her earlier comments on Two Much with Kajol & Twinkle on Amazon Prime, where she said actors work harder than most people. This time she was explaining why she thinks that.
She told The Hollywood Reporter India that her days are full of shoots, events, and very early flights. One day involved waking at 5 AM to catch a flight to Jaipur for a 3 PM event.
But it was her take on regular jobs that got people talking. She claimed desk workers don't need to be "100% present" and can take breaks, "chill out," and relax while working. She kept coming back to the unending scrutiny actors face like the feeling of always being watched or something as simple as how you cross your legs or who's snapping a picture in the background becomes a constant calculation. You have to be switched on, she insisted, all the time.
The internet, frankly, was having none of it. YouTube and Reddit exploded with responses. "For the kind of remuneration actors are paid, they shouldn't have a problem working 12 hours a day for 4 days a week," one user wrote. Another pointed out that films typically take 3-4 months to shoot, while regular jobs run year-round.
The responses got more pointed. "Vanity mein naps or massages bhi toh hum lete hain," a Reddit user commented, referencing the comfort of vanity vans. Someone else joked: "If you work poorly, you get fired. If you act poorly, you get a Filmfare award."
The bluntest response yet? "Respectfully, Kajol, shut up."
Nobody denies acting is demanding. Long hours, public pressure, and constant judgement are very real. But comparing it to regular employment ignores some major differences.
Most people work 12 months a year with two weeks' holiday if they're lucky. They don't have spot boys fetching drinks or vanity vans for rest breaks. One netizen nailed it: "A working parent's schedule is continuous, every single day, with no wrap-up party or off-season."
Online erupts as Kajol defends claim that acting demands more than everyday 9-to-5 workGetty Images
There's also the money. While her fee for a single film is probably more than most people earn in a year, she says that doesn’t make the work easy. Still, it does provide a comfort that regular employees don’t have. Kajol has not yet replied to the backlash.
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