AP, TS ticket hike row: ‘Coolie’ and ‘War 2’ face backlash from Telugu audiences ahead of Independence Day release

Rajinikanth’s highly anticipated ‘Coolie’, also starring Nagarjuna and the other with Hrithik Roshan, and Jr NTR’s spy-action thriller ‘War 2’, are set for a massive Independence Day box office clash on August 14. However, controversy is brewing in Andhra Pradesh (AP) and Telangana (TS) over proposed ticket price hikes for both films.Telugu fans have taken to social media to express outrage, with many calling the proposed hikes “exploitative.” Distributors are reportedly seeking government approval for special price increases, which could push multiplex rates to Rs 300–Rs 550 — significantly higher than prices in the films’ home markets. In Tamil Nadu, ‘Coolie’ is expected to cost Rs 150–Rs 200, while ‘War 2’ may be priced at ₹180–₹250 in North India.

One netizen questioned, “Why are Tamil films imposing higher ticket prices in Andhra & Telangana? This is a shame for TFI.” Another commented, “For a Tier 1 hero, people will go even with hikes… but for Coolie, it’s a risk. If the talk is bad, there will be huge drops from day two.”

According to Cinema Express, distributors are paying Rs 44–Rs 48 crore for the Telugu rights to ‘Coolie’ and Rs 80–Rs 90 crore for ‘War 2’. They are reportedly justifying the proposed hikes as a way to recover their heavy investments. Supporters of the move argue that cinema is a non-essential luxury, and the risks are borne by producers. They add that with stars like Jr NTR and Nagarjuna, coupled with aggressive marketing, higher ticket prices may not deter fans.