From Rugged Terrain to Reel Empire: Tracing the 29-Year Journey of Ramoji Film City
Nearly three decades after its inception, Ramoji Film City continues to stand as a testament to India’s evolving film industry, transforming a once-overgrown patch of land on Hyderabad’s outskirts into the world’s largest integrated studio complex. Established in 1996 amid the rapid liberalization of India’s economy, the facility has hosted hundreds of productions while doubling as a major tourist draw, though it has not been without its share of folklore and logistical hurdles.
The origins of Ramoji Film City trace back to the ambitious vision of Cherukuri Ramoji Rao, a prominent Telugu media entrepreneur and founder of the Ramoji Group. Rao, who passed away in June 2024 at the age of 82, entered the film production arena in the early 1980s with Ushakiron Movies, but his grander aspiration was to replicate the self-contained efficiency of Hollywood studios like Universal on Indian soil. Drawing inspiration from these global benchmarks, Rao acquired approximately 1,666 acres of rugged, jungle-covered terrain in Abdullapurmet, about 25 kilometers from Hyderabad’s city center. The project, which broke ground in the mid-1990s, was designed under the guidance of art director Nitish Roy, who emphasized blending artificial sets with the site’s natural contours to create versatile shooting environments.
By 1996, the complex was operational, earning immediate acclaim for its scale. Spanning over 2,000 acres—though official figures often cite 1,666 acres—it was certified by Guinness World Records as the planet’s largest film studio, a title it has held since. The facility boasts 47 sound stages, permanent sets mimicking urban and rural locales—from railway stations and airports to grand mansions and lush gardens—and infrastructure to support up to 15 simultaneous film shoots. Internal logistics are managed by a fleet of vintage buses and air-conditioned coaches, ferrying crews across the expansive grounds. At its peak, it employs around 1,200 staff and 8,000 freelance agents, churning out 400 to 500 productions each year in languages including Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, and Kannada.
The site’s debut came swiftly: the 1997 Telugu film Maa Nannaku Pelli, directed by K. Ajay Kumar, became the first feature entirely shot there, marking a practical milestone for an industry then grappling with fragmented production setups. Over the years, Ramoji Film City has been the backdrop for landmark projects, most notably the epic Baahubali franchise (2015 and 2017), directed by S.S. Rajamouli. Sets from these films, including massive war sequences staged amid recreated ancient kingdoms, remain preserved as tourist exhibits, underscoring the complex’s role in elevating South Indian cinema’s global profile.
Beyond filmmaking, the venue evolved into a multifaceted destination. Six on-site hotels cater to visiting crews and sightseers, while an amusement park and guided tours offer glimpses into production techniques. This dual purpose has drawn nearly 1.5 million visitors annually, positioning it as a key revenue stream for Telangana’s tourism sector. In recent years, the complex has pivoted toward corporate events and international collaborations, with appearances at forums like the Bengaluru Luxury Travel Mart (BLTM) in September 2025 and the WAVES Summit in May 2025, where it highlighted its infrastructure for global content creators.
Yet, the facility’s history is not devoid of challenges. Early concerns in 2006 revolved around potential land acquisition for Hyderabad’s Outer Ring Road, which threatened portions of the site, though the issue appears to have been resolved without major disruption. More persistently, local lore has painted Ramoji Film City as a “haunted” locale, allegedly built on the grounds of a historical Nizam-era battlefield where soldiers perished. This narrative resurfaced in June 2025 when Bollywood actor Kajol, promoting her horror film Maa, described it as “one of the most haunted places in the world” during an interview, sparking online backlash from Hyderabad residents and the studio’s management. Kajol quickly clarified her remarks, emphasizing the site’s safety for families and children, but the episode reignited debates on how such myths affect perceptions of cultural landmarks.
As Ramoji Film City approaches its 30th year in 2026, its legacy reflects broader shifts in India’s media landscape—from the post-liberalization boom that birthed mega-studios to the digital era’s demand for versatile, eco-integrated spaces. With Rao’s passing last year, questions linger about succession within the Ramoji Group, but the complex’s operational resilience suggests it will endure as a cornerstone of the nation’s cinematic infrastructure. Industry observers note that while competition from Mumbai and Chennai intensifies, its unparalleled scale and location advantages keep it relevant, even as Bollywood and regional filmmakers increasingly seek out-of-town efficiency.
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Last Updated on: Friday, October 3, 2025 2:20 pm by News Centre24 Team | Published by: News Centre24 Team on October 3, 2025 2:20 pm | News Categories: LIFESTYLE
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