“No One Has the Power to Stop Pawan Kalyan’s Film”: Producer Dil Raju Clears the Air on Theater Shutdown Rumors
Renowned producer Dil Raju has addressed the recent controversy surrounding reports of a potential theatre shutdown and rumors about attempts to halt the release of Pawan Kalyan’s upcoming film. Speaking at a press meet, he clarified the confusion and expressed gratitude to Andhra Pradesh Cinematography Minister Kandula Durgesh for resolving the situation.
Clarifying the Miscommunication
Dil Raju began by stating,
“Firstly, my heartfelt thanks to Minister Kandula Durgesh garu. He brought an end to an issue that’s been ongoing for several days. I’m here today not only as a producer but also as a distributor to express my gratitude on behalf of the Telugu film industry.”
He explained that the issue originated from East Godavari, where a group of exhibitors and distributors met on April 19 to discuss a shift from the current rent-based model to a percentage-based system. Exhibitors expressed difficulties with the existing structure, where rent is paid during strong first-week collections, and a percentage system kicks in when collections dip in the second week.
How the Issue Spread
This localized discussion somehow got misattributed to Telangana, sparking unnecessary confusion. Around the same time, the release date of Hari Hara Veera Mallu (Pawan Kalyan’s film) was announced and later postponed. Despite no direct connection, speculation linked the delay to this issue.
Dil Raju clarified:
“There’s no question of stopping Pawan Kalyan garu’s film. That’s simply not possible. Both state governments have always been positive towards the film industry.”
The Theater Shutdown Buzz
Dil Raju pointed out how things escalated:
“When the topic of percentage-sharing reached Telangana, local exhibitors brought it to the attention of Sirish (producer). We’ve been working with them for over 20 years. On May 18, a Chamber meeting was held. I attended the final 15 minutes, but somehow news got out saying theaters will be shut from June 1.”
He continued:
“I personally advised against any theater shutdown. Everyone agreed. Exhibitors wrote to the Chamber requesting the percentage system. What they meant was: if their demands aren’t met, they might consider a shutdown. But media ran with the story as if it were final.”
He stressed that producers never agreed to any shutdown and, in fact, a meeting of producers also concluded that:
“Exhibitors do face genuine issues, and we need to find solutions—but not by shutting down theaters.”
The Situation Escalates to the Government
Unfortunately, the matter was miscommunicated to the government as an industry-wide strike. Dil Raju said:
“Minister Durgesh garu spoke to me, and I explained everything clearly. We clarified in the joint meeting that there is no shutdown from June 1. Still, the news had already spread by then.”
Packed Film Calendar Ahead
Dil Raju highlighted the upcoming slate of releases:
- May 30: Bhairava
- June 5: Kamal Haasan’s film
- June 12: Pawan Kalyan’s Hari Hara Veera Mallu
- June 20: Kubera
“This month and next are packed with major releases. Shutting theaters now would harm everyone. Our focus should be on protecting the film industry and working together.”
On Unity & The Industry’s Future
Dil Raju emphasized the need for unity within the industry and clear communication with governments. He also shared his vision for the future:
“We have a distribution office in Uttarandhra with 20 theaters. I’ve grown in the last 30 years by backing good films. Now, I’m focused on innovation—recently I launched an AI company ‘Larven’ and announced ‘Dil Raju Dreams’ to support new talent.”
He concluded:
“Let us not allow these issues to escalate further. Both governments have always supported the industry. Let’s work through official channels, solve our problems peacefully, and move forward together. I hope this matter ends here today. Thank you all.”
