Jubilee Hills, now one of Hyderabad’s most sought-after areas, was once just a wide stretch of empty land. There were no busy roads, no traffic, no bungalows. All that existed was only rocks, shrubs, and snakes as far as the eye could see.
On August 13, 1975, under the vision of legendary Tollywood actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao Garu, a foundation stone was laid in this barren space for Annapurna Studios. ANR Garu took this step with an aim to create a base for Telugu cinema in its own land. And that was the catalyst that led to the creation of Jubilee Hills, Film Nagar & Krishna Nagar, and shaped the future of Hyderabad’s film ecosystem.
The studio was officially inaugurated on January 14, 1976, by the then President of India, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed. Since then, the studio has kept growing steadily, and today it has multiple shooting floors, outdoor sets, and world-class post-production facilities.
To nurture young talent, Annapurna Studios further established Annapurna College of Film and Media, offering courses in acting, directing, cinematography, editing, and sound design. Today, as the Studios completes 50 years of its foundation day, it continues to run at full capacity. What was once a barren piece of land is now one of Indian cinema’s most creative and respected hubs.
