Tollywood has been making great progress in filmmaking, but some bad habits still remain. One of the biggest issues is the money wasted on celebrity cameos that don’t add anything to the story. Instead of making the film better, these appearances feel like expensive publicity stunts.
Take Robinhood, for example. The film features a cameo by an Australian cricketer David Warner who once played for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). But his role has no real importance, and he doesn’t make any impact on the movie. Despite this, reports say he was paid around a massive Rs. 3 crore – a huge amount for a role that has no impact.
Another example is Liger, where boxing legend Mike Tyson made a cameo. The makers hyped his role, but when the movie came out, his presence made no difference. Worse, he was reportedly paid Rs. 20 crore (approx.) – money that could have been used to improve the film itself. Ironically, Tyson himself doesn’t even seem to remember being part of the project.
Instead of spending crores on pointless cameos, Tollywood should focus on meaningful casting. If used well, cameos can make a film more exciting, like in Bollywood and Hollywood. But just randomly adding celebrities for hype does nothing except waste money.
As Telugu cinema grows, filmmakers need to rethink these costly mistakes. A strong script, talented actors, and good storytelling will always be more valuable than a forgettable star appearance. Hopefully, the upcoming directors will make smarter choices.