Sai Pallavi is among the most popular actresses in Indian cinema. She made her Bollywood debut earlier this year and will next be seen as Goddess Sita in the highly anticipated “Ramayana”. With a strong following in both Telugu and Tamil cinema, she is among the few actresses who can bring considerable star value to a project.
However, when it comes to the OTT market, there is reportedly a gap between Sai Pallavi and some of the other leading actresses, particularly Rashmika Mandanna.
According to industry buzz, OTT platforms are willing to pay considerably more for a female-centric film headlined by Rashmika compared to one led by Sai Pallavi. Rashmika’s presence in several successful pan-Indian films, along with her massive social media following, is said to be a major factor behind the difference in OTT valuations.
Rashmika has been part of major pan-Indian successes such as “Pushpa 2”, “Animal” and “Chhaava”, which have significantly expanded her reach beyond the South. Her popularity on Instagram, where she has more than 50 million followers, is also considered an advantage when platforms assess the commercial value of a project.
Sai Pallavi, meanwhile, has built a strong following through her performances and selective film choices, but has yet to deliver a pan-Indian blockbuster on the scale of some of Rashmika’s recent films.
The latest buzz is that a prominent OTT platform has already closed a deal for the MS Subbulakshmi biopic after Rashmika Mandanna was announced as the legendary singer. The deal is being seen as another indication of the actress’s growing OTT market value.