Naga Vamsi breaks silence on War 2 losses, reveals YRF’s Rs 18 crore refund after box office disappointment

Naga Vamsi breaks silence on War 2 losses, reveals YRF’s Rs 18 crore refund after box office disappointment

• War 2's Telugu rights sold for Rs 68 crore, box office share Rs 35-40 crore.
• Yash Raj Films refunded Rs 18 crore to Naga Vamsi to offset losses
• Final loss for Naga Vamsi estimated at Rs 10-15 crore, less than rumored amounts

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Producer Naga Vamsi has finally addressed the long-running speculation around the financial losses incurred from War 2, offering a rare and candid look into how the numbers actually played out behind the scenes.

Starring Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR, War 2 released in theatres amid enormous pre-release hype, particularly in the Telugu states.

Trade expectations were sky-high, driven by the combination of two major stars, a proven franchise, and a nationwide marketing push. However, the film failed to sustain momentum at the box office, eventually being labelled a clear disappointment.

Following the film’s underwhelming performance, rumours began circulating that Naga Vamsi, who handled the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana distribution, had suffered massive losses. Some reports even claimed the setback ran far higher than what is typically seen for a big-ticket release. Addressing these claims, the producer clarified the actual figures and credited the support he received from Yash Raj Films.

According to Naga Vamsi, the Telugu theatrical rights for War 2 were acquired for Rs 68 crore, excluding GST. He added that Yash Raj Films had already paid the GST component prior to the film’s release, easing some of the immediate financial burden. Despite the strong opening, the film managed to generate only around Rs 35 to Rs 40 crore in theatrical share from the Telugu states, creating a significant gap between investment and returns.

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What surprised many in the industry was what followed. Naga Vamsi revealed that after the release, he met the War 2 team at YRF to discuss the situation.

Understanding the losses incurred, the production house voluntarily refunded Rs 18 crore to him. The producer explained that this was not an afterthought but part of a pre-agreed arrangement designed to mitigate losses if the film underperformed in specific territories.

With this compensation factored in, the final loss was drastically reduced. Based on his calculations, the total setback from War 2 stands at approximately Rs 10 to Rs 15 crore, far lower than the exaggerated figures doing the rounds earlier.