Andhra Pradesh plans film and creator economy hub in Visakhapatnam

Minister for IT, Electronics and Communications Nara Lokesh interacts with actor Rana Daggubati during a live podcast at the CII Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam on Friday. | Photo Credit: V. RAJU The Andhra Pradesh government plans to develop a comprehensive film and creator economy ecosystem in Visakhapatnam, moving beyond conventional production incentives, Information Technology and Human Resources Development Minister Nara Lokesh has said.Actor-producer Rana Daggubati has pledged to collaborate with the State government and industry stakeholders to establish an entertainment hub in the port city.Speaking during a live podcast with Mr. Rana on the sidelines of the CII Partnership Summit 2026 here, Mr. Lokesh described the creator economy as the next major wave of economic growth. He stressed the need for an integrated ecosystem encompassing film studios, production facilities, post-production infrastructure, gaming and digital content creation.Drawing a parallel with Hyderabad’s emergence as a major entertainment centre, backed by the development of studios and Film Nagar, he said Andhra Pradesh could replicate the success through targeted policy support and active industry participation.Mr. Lokesh also highlighted the rapid growth of YouTube productions, gaming and emerging digital formats. Smartphone penetration had democratised content creation, giving young talent unprecedented access to production tools and opening up significant employment and entrepreneurial opportunities, he said.Responding to the proposal, Mr. Rana said he would work closely with the State government and creative industry leaders to help develop an entertainment hub in Visakhapatnam catering to filmmakers and digital creators.Both agreed to work out a roadmap to position Andhra Pradesh as a leading destination for the creator economy. Published - November 13, 2026 07:57 pm IST