Andhra Pradesh Enlists Rana Daggubati for Visakhapatnam Film and Creator Hub

The Andhra Pradesh government plans to set up a film and creator economy hub in Visakhapatnam, with actor-producer Rana Daggubati collaborating on the project. If it takes shape, it could draw Telugu entertainment activity beyond Hyderabad.

Nara Lokesh, the state's IT and HRD minister, discussed the plan with Daggubati at a live podcast hosted at the CII Partnership Summit 2026 in Visakhapatnam. The hub is meant to cover movie production, gaming and online content, bringing traditional filmmaking and digital media under one effort.

Hyderabad as the model

Lokesh pointed to Hyderabad as the template.

The city grew into an entertainment centre through its studios and Film Nagar, he said, and Andhra Pradesh could achieve something comparable with government support. The comparison frames Visakhapatnam as a second base for the industry rather than a replacement for the existing one.

He also called for a comprehensive creator economy in the state and described it as the next major wave of economic growth for Andhra Pradesh. That puts film, gaming and online video in the same economic category as other sectors the government hopes to expand.

The discussion took in the rise of YouTube and other digital content, and how Hyderabad's entertainment success could be followed as that audience grows. Online creators are part of the plan alongside film productions, not an afterthought to them.

Daggubati's role

Daggubati committed to working with the state government and industry stakeholders to build an entertainment ecosystem in Visakhapatnam for creators across films and other formats. His involvement brings a working actor and producer into the planning, rather than leaving it solely to officials.

The approach described is one that goes beyond old-style incentives. The aim is a creative ecosystem that makes it easier for young talent to enter content creation, so that newcomers have a route into the industry without relying only on established networks elsewhere.

The roadmap is also framed in terms of employment. It is intended to create jobs and help creators turn their passion into careers, a goal that applies as much to a first-time video maker as to a film crew.

Both Lokesh and Daggubati agreed to jointly develop a vision for positioning Andhra Pradesh as a creator economy hub.