Tax Raids Shake Tollywood: Producers of 'Pushpa 2' and 'Game Changer' Under Scanner
2 months ago | 5 Views
The Income Tax Department executed raids on Tuesday at the residences and offices of film producers Dil Raju, Ravi Shankar Yalamanchili, and Naveen Yerneni in Hyderabad. These individuals have recently supported the productions Game Changer, Sankranthiki Vasthunam, and Pushpa 2: The Rule.
IT raids on producers
Reports indicate that the raids took place at eight distinct locations across Hyderabad, encompassing the homes and offices of the aforementioned producers as well as an online platform. Raju, whose birth name is Velamkucha Venkata Ramana Reddy, is a well-known producer and distributor within the Telugu film sector. He is the proprietor of Sri Venkateswara Creations and has recently been appointed as the chairman of the Telangana Film Development Corporation by the state government. Ravi and Naveen, who co-own Mythri Movie Makers, are also significant figures in the industry.
These raids come in the wake of the successful release of Sankranthiki Vasthunam, featuring Venkatesh, for Raju, and Pushpa 2: The Rule, starring Allu Arjun, for Ravi and Naveen. Raju also produced Game Changer, featuring Ram Charan, which received a mixed reception. All three films were released recently, with Pushpa 2: The Rule and Game Changer being produced on substantial budgets. It is reported that the raids were initiated due to suspicions of tax evasion, although further information is pending. The IT department has yet to issue an official statement regarding the matter.
As reported by Sacnilk, Pushpa 2: The Rule has grossed ₹1228.25 crore net in India and ₹1734.65 crore globally since its release on December 5. Game Changer has generated ₹125.4 crore net in India and ₹179.55 crore worldwide since its debut on January 10. Sankranthiki Vasthunam has earned approximately ₹122.78 crore net in India since its release on January 14.
About their recent films
Raju’s Sri Venkateswara Creations achieved significant financial success in the early 2000s, beginning with productions such as Dil, Arya, and Bommarillu. In 2023, he produced the film Varisu, featuring Vijay, and co-produced Shaakunthalam, starring Samantha Ruth Prabhu. In 2024, he produced The Family Star, also featuring Vijay Deverakonda, along with Game Changer.
Ravi and Naveen's production company, Mythri, commenced its journey with the release of the 2015 film Srimanthudu, followed by the 2016 film Janatha Garage. They have supported various successful projects, including Rangasthalam, Dear Comrade, Gang Leader, and Mathu Vadalara, among others. Following the anticipated Pushpa 2: The Rise, they are set to produce several notable films, including Good Bad Ugly featuring Ajith Kumar, Jaat starring Sunny Deol, Ustaad Bhagat Singh with Pawan Kalyan, and Jai Hanuman featuring Rishab Shetty.
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