Nara Lokesh pitches an integrated creative ecosystem with studios, post-production facilities and support for digital creators at the CII Partnership Summit 2026.
Highlights:
- Andhra Pradesh wants to develop Visakhapatnam as an entertainment hub.
- The proposal covers films, digital content, gaming and creative businesses.
- Nara Lokesh calls for infrastructure beyond film-production incentives.
- Rana Daggubati commits to collaborating with the state government.
- Hyderabad’s studio-led growth offers a model for the proposed ecosystem.
- Investment, talent development and creator opportunities are key priorities.
Visakhapatnam, November 14: Andhra Pradesh is looking to develop Visakhapatnam into a hub for films, digital content, gaming and other creative industries, with actor-producer Rana Daggubati pledging to collaborate with the state government on the proposed ecosystem.
The proposal was discussed during a live podcast featuring Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh and Rana at the CII Partnership Summit 2026. Their discussion focused on building infrastructure and industry partnerships to support both established entertainment businesses and emerging digital creators.
Lokesh called for an approach that goes beyond conventional incentives for film production. He proposed an integrated ecosystem covering studios, production facilities, post-production infrastructure and allied creative businesses, aimed at attracting investment and nurturing talent.
Identifying the creator economy as a potential engine of economic growth, Lokesh said Andhra Pradesh should develop the infrastructure and institutional support needed to encourage businesses across entertainment and digital content sectors.
He drew parallels with Hyderabad’s emergence as a major film-production centre through the development of studios and Film Nagar. A similar model could be pursued in Andhra Pradesh with government backing and active participation from industry stakeholders, he said.
The proposed focus extends beyond cinema to YouTube productions, digital media, gaming and other emerging creative formats. Lokesh highlighted how smartphones and accessible technology have lowered entry barriers, allowing more young people to produce content and explore opportunities to earn from their work.
Responding to the proposal, Rana committed to working with the Andhra Pradesh government and industry stakeholders to help develop an entertainment ecosystem in Visakhapatnam. He supported a broader approach that caters to filmmakers as well as creators operating across digital platforms and newer content formats.
Both agreed to collaborate on a wider vision to position Andhra Pradesh as a destination for the creator economy, with Visakhapatnam serving as a potential centre for entertainment investment, production infrastructure and creative talent.
The discussion outlined the broad ambition for the project. However, details such as investment commitments, land allocation, implementation timelines and specific policy incentives were not provided.
The next steps would involve translating that vision into infrastructure, institutional support and industry participation capable of supporting a range of creative businesses.
