AP plans Vizag entertainment hub

Visakhapatnam: Andhra Pradesh is looking to develop Visakhapatnam as a hub for films, digital content, gaming and other creative industries, with actor-producer Rana Daggubati committing to work with the state government to build an integrated entertainment and creator economy ecosystem.The proposal was discussed during a live podcast featuring Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh and Rana Daggubati at the CII Partnership Summit 2026.Also Read: Zee Studios appoints Suraj Singh as business head, plans to expand film slate across languagesLokesh called for moving beyond conventional film-production incentives to build an end-to-end ecosystem encompassing studios, production facilities, post-production infrastructure and allied creative businesses.Identifying the creator economy as a potential new engine of economic growth, Lokesh said Andhra Pradesh should develop the infrastructure and institutional support needed to attract investments and nurture talent across the entertainment and digital content sectors.Also Read: Lights, camera... microdrama! Big showmen hooked on new gig in townDrawing parallels with Hyderabad's emergence as a major film-production centre through the development of studios and Film Nagar, Lokesh said Andhra Pradesh could replicate that model with government backing and active participation from industry stakeholders.He also pointed to the expanding opportunities in YouTube productions, digital media, gaming and other emerging creative formats, noting that smartphones and accessible technology had lowered entry barriers for young creators and opened up new avenues for content production and monetisation.Responding to Lokesh's proposal, Rana pledged to collaborate with the Andhra Pradesh government and industry stakeholders to develop an entertainment ecosystem in Visakhapatnam, catering not just to the film industry but also to creators working across digital and other emerging formats.Both agreed to work together on a broader vision to position Andhra Pradesh as a destination for the creator economy, with Visakhapatnam emerging as a potential centre for entertainment-related investments, production infrastructure and creative talent.