Telugu film industry workers call off strike after producers agreed on revised wage structure

Hyderabad: Telugu film industry workers called off the strike after halting shootings for 18 days.

The breakthrough came after marathon discussions between producers and employees’ unions, with both sides agreeing on a revised wage structure.

The announcement was made at a joint press meet of the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce (TFCC) and the Telugu Film Industry Employees’ Federations (TFIEF), in the presence of Telangana State Film Development Corporation (TFDC) chairman Dil Raju and Additional Labour Commissioner Gangadhar Eslavath.

CM Revanth Reddy’s key role

Industry insiders said the deadlock was broken only after the intervention of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, who pushed for an urgent resolution.

“Chief Minister Revanth Reddy requested us to resolve this issue quickly. He has a clear vision to make Hyderabad a healthy hub for the Indian film industry,” Dil Raju told the media.

TFCC secretary KL Damodar Prasad echoed this sentiment, adding: “If not for the CM’s intervention, no one knows how long this strike would have dragged on.”

What workers will get

Eslavath outlined the wage settlement:

Low-wage category (13 out of 24 unions): 15% hike in the first year, followed by 2.5% and 5% in the next two years, 22.5% in total.

Workers earning ₹2,000–₹5,000 per day: 7.5% hike in Year 1, and 5% each in Years 2 and 3.

The settlement is expected to benefit thousands of crew members, from technicians to junior artists, who had been demanding fair pay.

Other agreements reached

A special committee will be formed within a month to address issues faced by small-budget films.

The 1.5 call-sheet system will now apply to big films on all Sundays, while small films will follow it only on the second and fourth Sundays.

Producers will also have the flexibility to hire crew members from outside when needed.

Back to Action

With the strike officially called off, shootings across Hyderabad are set to resume, bringing relief to producers, stars, and fans eagerly waiting for upcoming releases.

The resolution not only ends weeks of uncertainty but also reinforces Hyderabad’s position as a thriving hub for Indian cinema, film industry workers said.