4:30 PM | ETV Telugu News | 15th April 2021

Prominent Kollywood producer Kotapadi J. Rajesh (KJR Rajesh) has recently opened up about his financial struggles, and his comments have sparked widespread discussion on social media.

Known for producing films like Aram, Hero, Doctor, and Ayalaan under the KJR Studios banner, Rajesh shared how a series of large-scale projects, especially his collaborations with actor Sivakarthikeyan, led to unexpected financial pressure. He revealed that he had simultaneously taken up multiple big-budget films, including Hero and Ayalaan, which were launched around 2018.

According to him, he had assured financial backing for loans related to these projects during his three-film agreement with Sivakarthikeyan. While he initially expected all financial transactions to stabilise by 2019 after the release of Hero, things did not go as planned.

The producer said that by 2019, he was already under nearly ₹30 crore financial pressure. However, the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic further worsened the situation, halting shootings, delaying releases, and disrupting revenue streams across the industry.

He explained that Ayalaan, being a VFX-heavy film, took much longer than expected to complete, significantly increasing production costs. During the production period of Doctor and Ayalaan, the interest burden alone accumulated for nearly three years, adding to his financial strain.

Rajesh further revealed that his overall debt, which was around ₹90 crore when he entered the industry, has now grown to nearly ₹120 crore. He admitted that this financial stress has impacted both his personal and professional life.

He also stated that Sivakarthikeyan reportedly faced losses of around ₹55 crore due to these projects, although their professional relationship remains intact. Rajesh confirmed that two more films are still committed between them, though he is uncertain about their start dates.

Despite the challenges, KJR Rajesh’s journey in Kollywood—marked by successful films as well as significant financial setbacks—highlights the risks involved in large-scale film production, especially during unpredictable circumstances like the pandemic and rising interest burdens.