Shankar’s highly anticipated sequel, Indian 2, has finally graced the silver screen after facing numerous delays. While the film’s postponed release garnered significant negative attention, its arrival has shifted the focus towards its global box office performance. However, amidst this renewed excitement, speculation regarding the film’s budget and lead actor Kamal Haasan’s remuneration continues to dominate conversations.
Indian 2 serves as the follow-up to the critically acclaimed 1996 film “Indian,” which starred Kamal Haasan alongside Manisha Koirala and Urmila Matondkar. The original film enjoyed immense success not only at the box office but also on television, establishing itself as a cultural phenomenon. Shankar, renowned for his penchant for grand productions, envisioned this sequel as an even more spectacular cinematic experience.
The film’s official announcement came in 2017. However, its journey to the big screen was fraught with delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other unforeseen circumstances, leading to a reported increase in production costs. While official figures remain undisclosed, rumors suggest that Indian 2’s budget hovers around a staggering ₹250 crore. This, when combined with the estimated budget of the first installment, brings the total expenditure close to a monumental ₹500 crore.
Further fueling the speculation surrounding the film’s finances is the reported salary of Kamal Haasan. Industry whispers suggest that Haasan commanded a hefty sum of ₹150 crore for his role in Indian 2. This would translate to ₹75 crore per film for both installments, effectively consuming approximately 30% of the film’s entire budget solely on his remuneration. For context, Haasan’s reported salaries for other recent films include ₹20 crore for “Kalki 2898 AD” and ₹50 crore for “Vikram.”
With its grand production values and the rumors surrounding its budget and lead actor’s salary, Indian 2 has undoubtedly become a spectacle both on and off the screen. As the film embarks on its global theatrical run, the coming days will reveal whether its box office performance can match the grandeur of its production and the buzz surrounding its finances.
