Prithviraj Sukumaran has ensured that L2: Empuraan’s budget is spent on filmmaking, not inflated salaries. The actor-director revealed that neither he nor superstar Mohanlal charged a fee, prioritizing the film’s quality instead.

Prithviraj criticized the trend of huge budgets being dominated by actors' remuneration. “It’s not a ₹100 crore film where ₹80 crore goes to salaries and only 20 crore is left for filmmaking,” he said. While he initially had a dream cast in mind, he realized that high-profile international actors, despite their interest, came with hefty agent fees—something that doesn’t align with Malayalam cinema’s production model.

Interestingly, Prithviraj also revealed that Akshay Kumar worked for free in Selfiee, further emphasizing the importance of responsible budgeting in filmmaking. By keeping costs in check, L2: Empuraan promises to be a grand cinematic experience without unnecessary financial strain. With an industry often dominated by high salaries, Prithviraj’s approach could set a new precedent in Malayalam cinema.