Allu Aravind on Sunday clarified that he hasn't been a major player in the exhibition sector for a few years. With the sole exception of the famous AAA Cinemas in Hyderabad, he doesn't own any other screen in Telangana.
"Of the 1500 screens in the Telugu States, I hardly run 15 of them. I am not interested in renewing the leases of even these theatres once they expire," Aravind, who makes movies on Geetha Arts and GA2 Pictures, stated. The clarification was meant to put the record straight, he told the media.
"Without the support of the government, no business can be run smoothly. Last year, when some of us producers called on Pawan Kalyan garu to request for ticket price rates (ahead of the release of Kalki 2898 AD), he asked us if we would be meeting with Chandrababu Naidu garu as well. Somehow, no industry body has so far taken any initiative regarding that. Yesterday, someone subtly suggested that the industry doesn't require state support. I disagree with that stance. Several industry leaders called on the previous Chief Minister when needed," Aravind said.
Allu Aravind added that a unilateral decision to shut down theatres from June 1 (a decision that has since been called off) ahead of the release of Hari Hara Veera Mallu was nothing less than a misadventure.
