Tollywood Stunned As Two Biggies’ Digital Rights Still Unsold

There was a time when OTTs would line up before a movie even started shooting, throwing bags of cash just to grab streaming rights. Those were the golden, carefree days. But not anymore. Now, the digital giants have become picky, cautious, and maybe even a little scared. And the latest proof? Two massive Telugu films, Superstar Prabhas’ Raja Saab and Megastar Chiranjeevi’s Mana Shankara Vara Prasad Garu, both heading for a big Sankranti 2026 face-off, still don’t have OTT buyers.

Theatrical deals are going smoothly, but the digital side? Total deadlock. The makers of Raja Saab are quoting crazy high prices after the success of Salaar and Kalki, but OTTs aren’t easily convinced. They still remember the sting from Adipurush. On the other hand, Chiranjeevi’s camp is pushing for record-breaking rates, banking on festival buzz, but streamers are simply not ready. Their point is fair too, “By the time Sankranti films hit OTT, the hype cools off.” So, no one’s blinking yet.

This whole scene kind of shows how the industry has flipped. Stardom alone isn’t enough anymore. A big hero doesn’t automatically mean a big digital hit. OTT players have learned their lesson, they want solid content, not just fancy posters. But for producers, it’s a different headache. Without early OTT money, the box office becomes everything. That safety net they once had? Gone.

So here we are, two megastars, two massive films, and one surprising truth. The easy-money era from digital rights is over. No more blind bidding, no more “just because he’s a star” deals. From now on, it’s simple: strong story, right buzz, or no deal. Tollywood’s learning it the hard way, and the silence from OTTs says it all.