Usually, films that star Tier-2 Heroes in Telugu cinema are made within a budget range of ₹70–90 crore. But this year, things have changed drastically. Several Tier-2 heroes are now headlining films mounted on massive budgets, crossing ₹120 crore and even touching ₹200 crore.
It will be very interesting to see how these big investments work at the box office.
Nani’s The Paradise – Nearly ₹200 Cr Budget
The biggest among them is The Paradise, starring Nani and directed by Srikanth Odela, which is slated for an August 21 release, and its budget is said to be close to ₹200 crore, making it the highest-budget film ever for a Tier-2 hero. The film is planned as a full-fledged pan-India release, and International langauges release also.
Vijay Deverakonda’s Double Big Bets
Vijay Deverakonda is also coming up with two high-budget films. Ranabaali, directed by Rahul Sankrityan and slated for September 11 release, is reportedly being made on a ₹150 crore budget.
Rowdy Janardhana, directed by Ravi Kiran and planned for a December release, is also mounted on a massive scale.
Both films are positioned as pan-India entertainers and are expected to perform strongly beyond the Telugu states.
Sai Dharam Tej’s SYG on a grand scale
Sai Dharam Tej is also stepping into the big-budget zone with SYG, directed by Rohit and produced by Prime Show Entertainment. The film is reportedly being made on a ₹150 crore budget and is expected to release in the second half of this year.
Naga Chaitanya’s Biggest Film Yet
Naga Chaitanya is also gearing up for his biggest film so far with Virupaksha, directed by Karthik and produced by SVCC. The film is said to be mounted on a ₹120 crore budget and is scheduled for release in the second half of the year.
Pan-India Is the Key for Tier-2 Heroes in 2026
All these films are not just targeting Telugu audiences. They are being planned for release in multiple languages across India.
With such high budgets, it is no longer enough to perform well only in the Telugu states. These films need strong numbers from Hindi, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam markets as well for producers to stay safe.
2026 is clearly turning into a high-risk, high-reward year for Tier-2 heroes. Now the big question is, will the box office support these massive jumps in scale?
