End of Fixed Salaries in Kollywood: Are Stars Ready for the Change?

In a significant move, the Tamil Film Producers Council has announced sweeping reforms in big-budget filmmaking. During its recent meeting, the council resolved to replace the traditional remuneration system with a revenue-sharing model for actors and technicians. Currently, payments are fixed based on an individual’s market value, demand, and popularity, regardless of a film’s box office outcome. Under the proposed system, artistes will share both profits and losses along with producers, fundamentally altering the financial structure of the industry.

The council has also called for a one-day strike on May 2, signaling the beginning of broader structural changes in Kollywood. If the Nadigar Sangam fails to support the revenue-sharing model, the protest could escalate into a full-scale shutdown. Additionally, the council has mandated a strict OTT release window, barring films from streaming for 6 to 8 weeks after theatrical release—six weeks for mid-range films and eight weeks for big-budget productions. The model, previously proposed in 2025, has seen limited acceptance, though recent films adopting it have reportedly reduced financial risk for producers.