Rana Daggubati says India’s low screen count is triggered by rising real estate cost

Actor Rana Daggubati, who is known for ‘Arrambam’, ‘Baahubali: The Beginning’, ‘Baby’, ‘Housefull 4’ and others, has shared his insights on the Indian entertainment industry’s eternal problem of a diminishing screen count.Rana spoke with IANS ahead of the release of ‘All We Imagine as Light’ which won the Grand Prix at the 77th Cannes Film Festival.

Rana, who is presenting the film to the audience across the country, told IANS, “India is definitely very very underscreened. In terms of the number of screens it has, 14, 000 is a very large number. India has only about 6000-8000 working screens, the rest are all diminishing in many ways. Out of which, a large part of it is in Andhra and Telangana, the areas that I live in.

He further mentioned, “But no, we just feel like it can be much more. Screens for different kinds of people, and the number of people that are around”.

He then pointed toward the axel that drives the problem of screen count: India’s real estate market.

The actor told IANS, “It would solve that problem but India’s real estate is not as cheap as the rest of the world. We have less land, and many people unlike the USA or China which have much more land mass than us. We can build many more things. So that would change. But it’s like a chicken and egg. Look at the cinemas now. Every festival we are over full”.

“And we feel like there is no space for new films. But the rest of the year as exhibitors. We just sit idle because there is no film. It’s that trick that we are falling in, I just feel like. Unless exhibitors also know that there is more cinema that they can play, different types of audience that they can reach out to, different types of marketing techniques, that they can start exploring”, he added.

‘All We Imagine as Light’ is set to arrive in cinemas in India on November 22.

Nara Rohit’s Heartfelt Gratitude to PM Modi: A Touching Tribute!

Grief, like a storm cloud, looms heavy over our skies, casting shadows that linger long after the rain. For actor Nara Rohit, this storm arrived with the passing of his father, Nara Rammurthy Naidu, a leader whose simplicity and commitment to public service left an indelible mark on Andhra Pradesh. Amidst the solemn rituals held in their hometown of Naravaripalle, a ray of solace came in the form of a heartfelt condolence letter from none other than Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In his letter, Prime Minister Modi eloquently honored the late leader, emphasizing the void his passing left behind and celebrating his contributions to public life. Modi’s words, a blend of empathy and reverence, acknowledged the enduring values instilled by Rammurthy Naidu and offered hope to the grieving family. “Memories of the times spent with him will provide solace,” Modi wrote, striking a chord that resonated deeply with Nara Rohit and his loved ones.

Moved by the Prime Minister’s gesture, Nara Rohit expressed his gratitude, sharing how the words brought strength and comfort during this trying time. In his reply, he wrote, “Your heartfelt words have instilled confidence to face this loss with courage. I am deeply grateful for your thoughtful gesture.” For a family navigating the pain of such a personal loss, the acknowledgment from a national leader was both a source of pride and a reminder of the legacy left behind by Rammurthy Naidu.

As the clouds of grief slowly part, Nara Rohit’s message encapsulates the gratitude of a son whose father’s life continues to inspire. And while the Prime Minister’s words may not literally patch up the holes left in their hearts, they do remind us all of the unifying power of empathy. After all, as they say, even in the darkest storms, someone always shows up with an umbrella and in this case, it just happened to be from the PM’s office.