Chennai, India: Pooja Hegde, a well-known Tollywood actress who has shared the screen with A-list actors, is facing criticism for her high remuneration demands. Despite a string of flops in the past three years, reports suggest she is quoting a fee of Rs 5 crore per film, which some producers find excessive. 

  Hegde is currently focusing on Bollywood projects while awaiting a strong comeback in Telugu cinema. However, her asking price seems to be a hurdle. According to sources, filmmakers of a few Telugu movies approached her but backed out after she quoted Rs 5 crore. They felt the amount was unjustified considering her recent box office performance. 

  This isn’t the first time Hegde’s remuneration has caused a stir. In 2022, she reportedly walked out of Mahesh Babu’s film “Guntur Kaaram” due to undisclosed reasons. Back in 2019, she charged Rs 3 crore for “Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo,” a successful film. Negotiations are currently underway for her to star opposite Naga Chaitanya in a project directed by Karthik Varma Dandu. Whether she joins the cast depends on whether she adjusts her salary expectations. 

  Pooja Hegde’s situation highlights the complex dynamics of remuneration in the Telugu film industry. While established stars command high fees, actors going through a dry spell might need to adjust their demands to secure projects. It remains to be seen if Hegde will find a middle ground with producers or if her focus will remain on Bollywood for the time being.