In the midst of swirling speculation over a potential theatre shutdown in the Telugu states starting June 1, acclaimed producer Dil Raju stepped forward to set the record straight. At a press conference held earlier today, he dismissed the buzz as “false propaganda”, asserting that no one could block or delay a Pawan Kalyan film.
The controversy gained momentum following remarks from Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and AP Cinematography Minister Kandula Durgesh, who expressed concern over reports of exhibitor unrest. Veteran producer Allu Aravind also addressed the issue just a day before. “No one has the guts or courage to stop Pawan Kalyan’s films,” Dil Raju declared, directly countering narratives suggesting a coordinated move to halt upcoming film releases.
While not naming any specific individuals, Raju acknowledged that insinuations had been made, subtly pointing fingers at him. “My name may not be mentioned, but the implication is clear,” he said. “This whole issue has been misinterpreted as a conspiracy against Pawan Kalyan’s movie, and it has unfortunately reached the government level.”
Reflecting on his 30-year career, Dil Raju added:
“We’ve paused film shoots in the past to sort out issues, but never have we resorted to shutting down theatres. That’s a line we’ve never crossed.”
He emphasized that recent meetings within the industry had clarified the matter, but misinformation had already been fed to government officials by “vested interests”—motivated either by loyalty or fear.
Highlighting the upcoming major releases, including Bhairava on May 30, a Kamal Haasan film on June 5, a Pawan Kalyan release on June 12, and Kubera on June 20, Dil questioned the rationale behind closing cinemas at such a crucial time.“Why would exhibitors sabotage themselves when big films are lined up? This only hurts the entire ecosystem,” he reasoned.
Raju also addressed an industry-wide shift toward a percentage-based revenue model, which has been proposed by exhibitors in a formal letter to the Film Chamber. While acknowledging that some fear speaking out, he stressed the importance of open dialogue.
He revealed that a group of exhibitors and distributors from East Godavari district had been questioned about their earnings over the past six months, in an effort to gauge the practicality of the proposed model.
“There’s nothing wrong in asking what the exhibitors truly want,” he concluded. “But let’s not mislead or politicize the narrative—our focus should remain on sustaining the industry.”
