Thug Life Controversy: Is Kamal Haasan Ready To Bear Rs 40 Cr Loss? Karnataka Ban Will HIT 7% Of Film’s Revenue

Kamal Haasan’s latest film Thug Life skipped theatres in Karnataka on opening day, and that decision might cost the makers big time. The ban comes after Kamal’s controversial language remark, which sparked backlash and led to the film’s release being halted in the state.

Now, industry insiders say the move could hit the film’s revenue by nearly Rs 40 crore. The loss includes both box office earnings and the producer’s share.

Karnataka Ban May Cause Thug Life Rs 40 Crore Loss

Producer and distributor G Dhananjayan estimates that the Karnataka ban could cause a Rs 35-40 crore gross loss for Thug Life, and Rs12-15 crore in terms of producer share. That’s roughly 7% of the film’s expected revenue gone, just because it couldn’t open in one state.

Karnataka has become a key region for big-budget Indian films. Recent hits like RRR, Pushpa 2, Kalki 2898 AD, and Baahubali 2 earned Rs 74-104 crore from Karnataka alone. Even Tamil hits like Jailer, Leo, and Ponniyin Selvan made solid numbers there. “For Tamil films too, the Karnataka market accounts for 7% of the total revenue,” said Dhananjayan, stressing how important that audience is for Tamil cinema.

What Triggered The Ban?

The controversy started on May 27, when Kamal Haasan said at a Karnataka event that “Kannada was born out of Tamil.” His comment didn’t go down well with local groups. The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce threatened a ban if he didn’t apologise.

Kamal refused. He said his statement was misinterpreted and stood by his words. The case landed in the Karnataka High Court, which also advised that the situation could’ve been resolved with a “simple apology.” The court even pointed out that Kamal is neither a historian nor a language expert.

But the actor didn’t change his stance, and the ban stayed in place. While fans across India watched the film on release day, Karnataka missed out.

Industry Reactions And Fallout

The Tamil Active Film Producers Council has spoken out, warning that the ban could damage ties between the Tamil and Kannada film industries. They fear it may lead to fewer collaborations and create long-term friction.

For the unversed, Thug Life released today (June 5) and is currently running in theatres.