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Bollywood star Ajay Devgn recently met with Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy to discuss a significant investment in the state’s media and entertainment sector. Devgn expressed keen interest in establishing a world-class film studio in Telangana, equipped with cutting-edge technology and built to international standards.

Veteran producer and studio owner D Suresh Babu welcomed the move, stating, “We are happy to welcome Ajay Devgn and other Bollywood and Kollywood stars to Hyderabad to set up their studios. These ventures will bring in their teams and infrastructure, creating new job opportunities for local workers and technicians.”

When asked whether the new studios might pose competition to existing ones, Suresh Babu was unperturbed. “Not at all. There is ample space for everyone in Hyderabad, which is expanding rapidly. Yes, we might lose a couple of films, but the broader vision is to establish Hyderabad as the undisputed film capital of India. I’d love to see more state-of-the-art studios here, as Hyderabad offers peace, favorable weather, and the lifestyle and logistics that stars demand.”

Hyderabad already hosts renowned studios like Rama Naidu Studios, Ramoji Film City, Annapurna Studios, Sarathi Studios, and AI Studios. However, it’s no secret that studios are not as lucrative as they once were, with filmmakers increasingly preferring real locations over constructed sets. “It’s true that many productions have shifted to real locations, which has reduced the profitability of traditional studio shoots. To stay afloat, we’ve diversified into TV serials, OTT content, and reality shows, which keep the studios operational and generate revenue,” Suresh Babu explained.

He also noted that Hyderabad’s studios, most of which were established between 1975 and 1995, are relatively younger compared to those in Mumbai and Chennai, offering more potential for growth. “We already have advanced facilities, including virtual production and AI technologies, but there’s always scope for upgrades to stay competitive with studios in other states,” he added.

On the challenges facing the film industry, Suresh Babu admitted, “While studio owners are managing to cope, it’s the producers who are bearing the brunt of frequent box-office failures and shrinking theatre audiences. Actors and technicians are still in demand, but theatre owners are struggling with losses. A more balanced and flexible ticket pricing model might help theatres recover and bring some much-needed stability to the industry.”