In a paradigm shift from the traditional dominance of movies in Indian entertainment, the rise of OTT platforms and the continued prominence of Indian television have opened new avenues for producers. This evolution has resulted in substantial budgets for numerous web series, making waves not only locally but also on a global scale.
Topping the charts as the most expensive OTT web series in India is Ajay Devgn’s starrer “Rudra: The Edge of Darkness,” surpassing even Shah Rukh Khan’s “Dunki” and Ranbir Kapoor’s “Animal.”
According to a report by DNA India, “Rudra: The Edge of Darkness” boasts a colossal production budget of Rs 200 crore. A significant portion of this budget is attributed to Ajay Devgn’s formidable fees, with the actor reportedly earning Rs 125 crore for just six episodes, translating to an astronomical Rs 21 crore per episode.
This eye-watering compensation establishes Devgn as the highest-paid Indian star in the OTT realm. The psychological crime thriller, a remake of the British series “Luther” featuring Idris Elba, is available on Disney+ Hotstar and also stars Raashii Khanna, Esha Deol, Atul Kulkarni, Ashwini Kalsekar, Tarun Gahlot, and Ashish Vidyarthi.
To put the magnitude of “Rudra’s” budget into perspective, iconic series like Saif Ali Khan’s “Sacred Games” had a production budget of Rs 40 crore for Season 1, which significantly increased to Rs 100 crore for Season 2, according to Times of India. Similarly, popular series like “Made in Heaven” starring Sobhita Dhulipala and Arjun Mathur, Anil Kapoor’s “24,” and Shahid Kapoor’s “Farzi” all shared an estimated production budget of Rs 100 crore, as reported by Times of India and Economic Times.
Even when compared to big-ticket Bollywood movies, “Rudra” stands out with its colossal production budget. For instance, “Dunki” commanded a budget of Rs 120 crore, while “Animal” had a production budget of Rs 100 crore, according to reports from Mint.
Surprisingly, even the much-anticipated “Gadar 2,” featuring Sunny Deol, was made on a relatively modest production budget of Rs 60 crore. In this era of ever-expanding entertainment possibilities, “Rudra: The Edge of Darkness” not only signifies a shift in the storytelling landscape but also sets a new benchmark for the financial investments made in premium content on OTT platforms, outshining some of the most revered names in both the web series and Bollywood film domains.