As an actor, he’s gained critical, audience and commercial acclaim, but few know that Daggubati is also a producer and entrepreneur, a creative force who has been enriching multiple film industries with his expertise over almost a decade.
Because of the enduring imagery of Baahubali’s Bhallaldeva, it’s somewhat strange to encounter Rana Daggubati the human being. To begin with, he isn’t packing the mountains of muscle he had gained for the films. Daggubati is playing Chandrababu Naidu in the new NT Rama Rao biopic, and thus has a reed-slim frame, a gaunt face and a glorious beard. He may not look evil any more, but the man’s still intimidating.
For the uninitiated (which would be a lot of us, because he doesn’t beat his own drum), Rana Daggubati is much more than a successful actor. He’s been selective as an actor (14 films in 8 years), but has been extremely busy in other capacities. As the grandson of the illustrious film maker Dr. D. Ramanaidu, and son of producer. Suresh Babu, Daggubati sits at the head of the family’s Ramanaidu Studios, one of India’s largest integrated production houses, offering production, distribution, exhibition and studio infrastructure for cinema, TV and digital platforms.
He also started his own production company, Spirit Media, before becoming an actor, and produced National Award winning films. A self-confessed geek, he owns a technology company, Anthill Studios, which invests in start-ups in the VFX, augmented reality and AI space, like AppStar (augmented reality), LDM (a visual effects studio based in London) and Gamezop (a game development studio), among others. He is particularly heavily invested in VFX, and also owns the south Indian arm of Kwan, the celebrity management and services company that also deals in film acquisition, licensing and digital activations.
This story is from the January 2019 edition of Man's World.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 2019 edition of Man's World.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Is Wearing Make-Up Normal For A Man?
The male beauty industry is expanding, however what do men in beauty need to do to destigmatise it?
Achieving Your Fitness Goals
Rohit Kamble
VIJAY VARMA
THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE RED HERRING
How Football Is Finding Its Voice
As the Indian Super League celebrates its tenth anniversary, we understand how the fandom in Indian football has become more vocal and organised, with some clubs also seeing the rise of Ultras groups
Through The Looking Glass
Where does the AR tech in India stand today? We try to find out after spending a few weeks with the Rokid AR Joy
Zaeden Your New 5-am friend
The singer-songwriter who is a popular name in the independent music scene, has recently dropped his highly-anticipated EP 5 am. The dance pop delves into the poignant theme of long-distance relationships, is a charming piece that is already climbing the charts
THE MACALLAN M 2023 LAUNCHES IN INDIA, REDEFINING LUXURY IN SPIRITS
With limited 10 handpicked bottles gracing the shores of India, The Macallan M 2023 stands as the pinnacle of exclusivity
American artist Grant Garmezy's magic of glassblowing
From fire to form, he takes us through one of the most exciting, adrenaline-pumping crafts out there
Haute Couture On Four-Wheels
It takes a village to build the world's (allegedly) most expensive.
Riding India's Electric Two-Wheeler Wave
India's electric two-wheeler market is booming with over 640,000 units sold by December 2023, despite consumer apprehensions and the call for better infrastructure