The West Asia war is starting to unsettle Bollywood’s math

Film producers and content makers across long- and short-format programming are bracing for a 20% to 25% budget increase as the geopolitical crisis arising from the West Asia war persists.

- Lata Jha

While some film movements have been postponed, others are being shifted to locations such as Jordan and Abu Dhabi.

(MINT)

With fuel and travel costs rising, everyday shooting expenses are expected to increase, posing a threat to projects, especially small and mid-budget titles.

This pressure follows a decline in box-office revenue from the usually profitable West Asia market. While top stars have not yet faced budget cuts, producers are re-evaluating all other production and logistical expenses to manage costs.

In an open letter, south Indian film star Kamal Haasan called for practical and sustainable operating practices for efficient filmmaking, such as better shooting discipline, tight schedules, reduced luxury and entourage expenses, limiting avoidable foreign travel where suitable local alternatives exist, conserving energy across sets and studios, and encouraging sustainable set structure and reuse of materials.