Actors to blame for budget overruns and production delays, alleges FEFKA general secretary B. Unnikrishnan

FEFKA's B. Unnikrishnan blames actors for budget overruns, while FEFKA and producers revise film workers' service conditions.

Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA) general secretary B. Unnikrishnan on Monday (February 9, 2026) suggested including actors drawing a remuneration of ₹1 lakh and above in an agreement involving producers, production controllers and directors to check budget overruns and extended shooting schedule of movies.

He said FEFKA was ready to accept such an agreement if such actors were made part of it. He alleged that actors had “a major role” in stretching budgets and extension of production timelines.

Mr. Unnikrishnan alleged that a producer, who is also a director and member of FEFKA, lost about ₹25 lakh as proceeds from a television channel after a lead actor in the Malayalam film industry had failed to turn up for the promotion of a movie. The same actor was absent in the promotion of a recent movie directed by Jeethu Joseph. “I do not have any fear in revealing his name. It is actor Biju Menon,” Mr. Unnikrishnan said.

He said that promoting a movie is “part of the agreement” between actors and producers. Mr. Menon was not available for comment.

Meanwhile, FEFKA and Kerala Film Producers’ Association signed an agreement revising the service conditions of film workers. The existing 16-hour daily shift has been replaced with a 12-hour working schedule.

The working hours were revised based on the inference that the stretched schedules were taking a toll on the physical and mental health of the workers.