Content Cabinet
The short answer
A lean one-day digital ad film in India can be made for about ₹2.7 lakh before GST, and a two-day mid-range film for about ₹10.8 lakh, based on the 2026 line-item ranges Cybertize Media publishes. The biggest lines are usually the director, the shoot days and the cast; GST adds 18% on top.
These are sample budgets to help you read a quote. Real quotes depend on the script.
The line items, with 2026 ranges
| Line item | What it covers | 2026 range |
|---|---|---|
| Script and concept | The story, dialogue and visual direction | ₹15,000 to ₹60,000 |
| Storyboard | A sketch of every shot | ₹8,000 to ₹25,000 |
| Director's fee | The creative lead for the shoot | ₹30,000 to ₹3,00,000 |
| Cinematographer (DOP) | How the film looks on camera | ₹25,000 to ₹1,00,000 a day |
| Equipment | Camera, lenses, lights, sound | ₹20,000 to ₹1,50,000 a day |
| Location and recce | Finding and booking places to shoot | ₹5,000 to ₹2,00,000 |
| Art direction and set | Set dressing, props, production design | ₹15,000 to ₹5,00,000 |
| Talent | Actors, models, voiceover artists | ₹5,000 to ₹80 lakh+ |
| Editing | Cuts, pacing, structure | ₹15,000 to ₹80,000 |
| Colour grade | Skin tones, mood, the final look | ₹10,000 to ₹60,000 |
| Music and sound design | Licensed or original music, sound | ₹15,000 to ₹3,00,000 |
| VFX and motion graphics | Product renders, overlays, effects | ₹20,000 to ₹10,00,000+ |
| Production markup | The house's margin for running it all | 15% to 25% of the total |
Sample budget 1: a lean one-day digital film
A 30-second film for Instagram and YouTube: one location, two actors, one shoot day, simple post.
| Line item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Script and concept | ₹15,000 |
| Storyboard | ₹8,000 |
| Director | ₹40,000 |
| Cinematographer, 1 day | ₹30,000 |
| Camera, lights and sound, 1 day | ₹30,000 |
| Location | ₹10,000 |
| Art and props | ₹20,000 |
| Cast, two non-celebrity actors | ₹20,000 |
| Edit | ₹20,000 |
| Colour grade | ₹10,000 |
| Music and sound | ₹15,000 |
| Motion graphics | ₹20,000 |
| Subtotal | ₹2,38,000 |
| Markup at 15% | ₹35,700 |
| Before GST | ₹2,73,700 |
| GST at 18% | ₹49,266 |
| Total | ₹3,22,966 |
Sample budget 2: a two-day mid-range film
A 45 to 60-second film with a proper set, more cast and some VFX, for YouTube, OTT and social.
| Line item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Script and concept | ₹40,000 |
| Storyboard | ₹15,000 |
| Director | ₹1,50,000 |
| Cinematographer, 2 days | ₹1,00,000 |
| Camera, lights and sound, 2 days | ₹1,20,000 |
| Locations | ₹60,000 |
| Art direction and set | ₹1,00,000 |
| Cast | ₹1,50,000 |
| Edit | ₹40,000 |
| Colour grade | ₹25,000 |
| Music and sound design | ₹50,000 |
| VFX and motion graphics | ₹50,000 |
| Subtotal | ₹9,00,000 |
| Markup at 20% | ₹1,80,000 |
| Before GST | ₹10,80,000 |
| GST at 18% | ₹1,94,400 |
| Total | ₹12,74,400 |
Where these sit in the market
Both samples land inside Cybertize Media's tiers: entry-level digital films at ₹50,000 to ₹3 lakh and mid-range digital or OTT films at ₹3 lakh to ₹20 lakh. Premium TV commercials and brand films run ₹20 lakh to ₹75 lakh, and celebrity-led national commercials ₹75 lakh to ₹2 crore or more. Airtime is separate: a 10-second prime-time spot on a national channel costs ₹1.5 lakh to ₹4 lakh.
Lines that move the most
- Cast. A known Instagram face can cost ₹1 lakh to ₹5 lakh a day, and a B-list Bollywood actor ₹25 lakh to ₹80 lakh, per Cybertize Media.
- Shoot days. One day against three can differ by ₹4 lakh to ₹10 lakh.
- VFX. The widest range on the sheet, from ₹20,000 to more than ₹10 lakh.
- Versions. 6, 15 and 30-second cuts and vertical formats are extra edit time. Ask for them in the first quote.
How to keep a budget honest
- Lock the script before you ask for quotes. A changing script is a changing budget.
- Ask for every quote in the same line items, so you can compare like with like.
- Shoot several films in the same days if you can; crew and equipment are paid by the day.
- Ask what is excluded: travel, talent buyouts and music licences are the usual gaps.
Questions people ask
What is the budget of an ad film in India?
From about ₹50,000 for a simple digital film to ₹2 crore or more for a celebrity-led national commercial. Most digital films for growing brands land between ₹3 lakh and ₹20 lakh, per Cybertize Media's 2026 guide.
What are the line items in an ad film budget?
Script, storyboard, director, cinematographer, equipment, locations, art direction, cast, editing, colour grade, music and sound, VFX, the production house's markup and GST.
How much does a director charge for an ad film?
Cybertize Media's 2026 guide puts a director's fee at ₹30,000 to ₹3,00,000, depending on experience; top directors charge more.
What markup do production houses charge?
Typically 15% to 25% of the total, per the same guide.
Is GST charged on ad film production?
Yes, 18%. A ₹10 lakh quote before GST becomes ₹11.8 lakh.
