From Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love & War to Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit and Siddharth Anand’s King, big-ticket films are feeling the pinch of extended shoots and creative overhauls. While filmmakers see these changes as necessary to improve the final product, producers are left footing the bill.
Industry sources estimate that additional shooting can add Rs 20-25 crore to major productions. The two-part Ramayana adaptation has reportedly seen its overall budget rise by over Rs 1,000 crore, though the additional cost attributable specifically to reshoots remains unclear.
Several other films have undergone significant changes. Salman Khan’s Maatrubhumi, earlier titled Battle of Galwan, reportedly underwent 40 days of reshoots. Sidharth Malhotra’s Vvaan saw extensive reshooting and re-editing, with its budget rising from Rs 65 crore to Rs 110 crore and Prabhas’ Fauzi is reworking key action sequences.
The costs extend beyond filming. Crew salaries, equipment rentals, studio maintenance, visual effects and financing interest continue to mount when schedules stretch. Late script changes can also render existing footage unusable, while delays may lead to clashes with actors’ other commitments.
King, initially conceived as a smaller thriller under Sujoy Ghosh evolved into a large-scale action spectacle under Siddharth Anand, with its budget rising from Rs 150 crore to Rs 350 crore.
The debate ultimately comes down to a balance between creative freedom and financial discipline. Without tighter planning and accountability, the pursuit of perfection can come at a steep price.
I think it is criminal to extend shooting by months, sometimes years, all in the name of creativity. Sometimes, reshoots are unavoidable. Otherwise, directors should be contractually obliged to complete a project in six to eight months.”
— Ram Gopal Varma, Director
As far as we are concerned, a film is made at the screenplay level. All one has to do is put the screenplay on screen. We have directed 19 films, and none of our films has ever gone over budget.”