Renowned Telugu film producer Dil Raju has candidly reflected on the significant setbacks faced by his recent Ram Charan starrer, Game Changer, openly labeling the decision to produce the high-budget political action thriller as a “wrong step” in his illustrious career. The film, directed by S. Shankar, opened to a largely negative reception and performed poorly at the box office, reportedly incurring substantial losses for the production house, Sri Venkateswara Creations.
In a recent interview, Dil Raju expressed profound regret over the outcome of Game Changer, a project that had generated immense anticipation, especially being Ram Charan’s first release after the global blockbuster RRR. “After a global blockbuster like RRR, Ram Charan deserved another big hit. I had everything planned well, but things didn’t fall into place,” he stated, acknowledging his failure to deliver a successful film for the star.
The producer did not shy away from discussing the inherent challenges of collaborating with “big directors.” He affirmed an earlier statement by the film’s editor, Shameer Muhammed, who revealed that the initial cut of Game Changer was an astonishing 7 to 7.5 hours long, eventually being trimmed to just over 4 hours before a final edit brought it down to a more conventional runtime. “When making big films with big directors, 100% problems are going to come up—not only for me but for almost everyone. The editor’s statement about Game Changer once having a runtime of four and a half hours is true, and such interference is bound to happen when working with big directors,” Dil Raju explained.
A key point of self-critique from Dil Raju was his approach to the production agreement. He admitted that his lack of experience with directors of Shankar’s stature led to a crucial oversight. “In my film career, I had never worked with such big directors like Shankar. Game Changer was my first wrong step. I should have clearly mentioned my points in the contract and moved into production, but I didn’t. It was my first mistake and I am accepting it and moving on,” he confessed. He emphasized that a producer’s responsibility is to intervene when things go awry, a role he felt he couldn’t adequately fulfill during Game Changer‘s tumultuous production.
Reports suggest Game Changer was mounted on a massive budget, reportedly ranging from ₹400 to ₹425 crore, but only managed to gross around ₹186.25 crore worldwide, making it a significant financial disappointment. The film, which featured Ram Charan in dual roles alongside Kiara Advani, Anjali, and S.J. Suryah, failed to resonate with both critics and audiences.
While the financial repercussions are evident, Dil Raju’s reflection highlights a deeper professional regret – the inability to provide Ram Charan with another triumph following his international success. Looking ahead, Dil Raju hinted at future collaborations with top-tier stars, expressing optimism about delivering successful projects in the coming years. His candid admission serves as a rare and insightful look into the complex dynamics and inherent risks involved in large-scale film productions, especially when working with celebrated but demanding creative forces.