I Was Neither Consulted Nor Informed: Suniel Narang Steps Down as Telangana Film Chamber President

In a dramatic development that has intensified the ongoing turmoil within Tollywood, producer and exhibitor Suniel Narang resigned as President of the Telangana Film Chamber of Commerce (TFCC) less than 24 hours after being re-elected for a third consecutive term.

Narang submitted his resignation to the TFCC executive committee, reportedly expressing strong dissatisfaction over the Chamber’s functioning and distancing himself from controversial remarks made during a recent media interaction.

“ I was neither consulted nor informed before such comments were made publicly. I do not want my name associated with statements that may create unnecessary misunderstandings within the industry,” Narang reportedly stated in his resignation letter.

The controversy erupted after newly elected TFCC secretary V.L. Sreedhar made explosive remarks during a press briefing on the ongoing theatre crisis . Defending exhibitors, Sreedhar reportedly claimed that after expenses and commissions, theatres were sometimes left with barely ₹4 per ticket , highlighting the severe financial strain faced by single-screen owners.

He also criticised soaring star remunerations , questioned producers and directors over mounting losses, and referred to political influence in trade matters, including the involvement of Pawan Kalyan .

“How can producers survive when heroes demand massive remunerations despite repeated failures?” Sreedhar reportedly said, triggering backlash across trade circles.

Since Narang was seated beside him during the interaction, many assumed the TFCC president endorsed those remarks. However, sources said Narang quickly distanced himself from the controversy, unwilling to be drawn into an issue that had already become politically sensitive.

Sources within the Chamber claimed Narang had grown frustrated with unilateral decision-making and internal pressure from certain office bearers. During internal discussions, he reportedly stated, “The Chamber should function on mutual understanding and collective decision-making , not through unilateral statements.”

The resignation comes at a crucial time for Tollywood, with producers, exhibitors, and distributors locked in discussions over shifting from fixed theatre rentals to a percentage-based revenue-sharing model . The dispute has raised fears of theatre shutdowns amid declining footfalls, rising operational costs, and increasing competition from OTT platforms.

A 21-member committee formed to resolve the issue is continuing discussions, even as Narang’s exit exposes deepening fractures within the Telugu film industry.