Nani believes that the way to bring families back to theatres is to tell stories they can see themselves in. Pointing to the success of Malayalam cinema’s Bethlehem Kudumba Unit, he hopes Telugu cinema will soon produce a simple, emotionally engaging love story that becomes a ₹300-crore blockbuster.
“When something genuinely touches people, families will come. We need to make more films that they can feel and relate to. In Malayalam cinema, a film like Bethlehem Kudumba Unit has shown how stories rooted in emotion can become massive successes. I am waiting for that moment in Telugu cinema — when a simple love story can make ₹300 crore and break the records of big films. That is when the entire thought process will change,” he says.It is a kind of storytelling that Nani is also keen to support through his work as a producer. His upcoming production, Alias Rukmini, starring Nithiin and scheduled to release on December 4, is a heartwarming love story that he believes could strike a chord with audiences across age groups. “The film is a beautiful, heartwarming love story, and it is shaping up really well. I believe it has the potential to bring audiences, including families, back to theatres. In my own way, I am trying to contribute to that change,” he adds.