Chiranjeevi Rejects Strike Meeting Claims as Tollywood Wage Dispute Escalates
The Telangana film industry is completely on pause as the Telugu Film Employees Federation (TFIEF) strike has entered its 8th day, thus halting productions and leaving thousands of daily wage workers in limbo.
As tensions between the two sides rise, megastar Chiranjeevi has denounced claims that he met with false and motivated protesting workers and reiterated that only the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce (TFCC) could bring a resolution on behalf of the producers.
The protest started on August 4, 2025, when workers demanded a 30% wage raise. Workers mentioned their wage scales had stagnated, alongside the costs of living in Hyderabad continuing to rise. Producers granted them a phased 15% - 20% increase (on low wage earners) for year one and a 5% increase for years two and three.
Chiranjeevi's Total Rejection: No unilateral commitments
Though there were indications that Chiranjeevi had intervened by assuring them that the workers would be satisfied, the actor posted on X [formerly Twitter] to reject this thought:
"I haven’t met with anyone from the federation. It is an industry matter, and no one (I included) can make unilateral commitments. The only avenue for arriving at solutions is the Film Chamber progressing to pursue resolution."
It has come to my attention that some individuals claiming to be the members of the Film Federation have gone to media falsely claiming that I have met them and given an assurance that their demands regarding 30% wage hike etc., shall be met and that I will be starting shooting…
— Chiranjeevi Konidela (@KChiruTweets) August 9, 2025
Chiranjeevi Posted on X (Twitter) - ( source: ndtv.com)
He called the claims groundless and added that the amount of misinformation only exacerbates grievances during already grievance-filled times. The TFCC's action to reach out to film producers was written with an admonition about unilateral negotiations while urging solidarity as a means to stop divisions.
Chiranjeevi’s Upcoming Movie
Chiranjeevi will star in Mega157, an action drama with Nayanthara directed by Anil Ravipudi, which is to be released for Sankranti in 2026. Chiranjeevi has Vassishta’s Vishwambhara with Trisha Krishnan, Kunal Kapoor, and Ashika Ranganath on the way. Vishwambhara will be release in theaters sometime in 2023.
He emphasized that the Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce is the superior organization of the Telugu film industry, and the chamber is the only body that would discuss the issues and find a resolution.
Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce take on Federation demand #TFCC#Tollywoodpic.twitter.com/51ZovwizK1
— Telugu Film Producers Council (@tfpcin) August 3, 2025
Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce X (Twitter ) Post - (source: moneycontrol.com)
Chiranjeevi’s Denial Deepens Tollywood’s Wages Woes
The wage issue afflicting the Telugu film industry does not appear to be improving. Chiranjeevi's rejection shows how hard resolution is when no party has any intention of finding a middle ground between the parties.
Unless one party suddenly changes their mind, and both parties hold firm in their positions, the only way to a resolution will be through negotiation, not speculation or the courts. For now, Tollywood lies dark, awaiting some clarity from its stricken fans and workers.
An Important Shift in Tollywood's Pay Dispute. This marks an important change in the way of thinking as it moves to a process of discussing claims. This issue is about wages for labour and about how to bridge the gap between the wages that workers ask for and what has been offered, as reported in Cinema Express, workers refusing selective and staged pay increases.