HYDERABAD: The set erected for the movie ‘Manam,’ the film starring three generations of Akkineni Nageswara Rao’s family was gutted as a major fire broke out in Annapurna Studios on Monday evening. Actor and managing director of the studios Akkineni Nagarjuna said the set was very close to the family as it was where his father Nageswara Rao spent his last days. According to him, the loss is estimated to be around `2 crore.
The mishap took place at around 6.30 p.m reducing a major part of the standalone structure to cinders. However, there was no loss of life and no one was injured as the sets were empty.
Though it was suspected that a short circuit might have caused the fire, Telangana state disaster response and fire service department personnel said that they are yet to ascertain the reason.
Hyderabad district fire officer M Srinivas Reddy said that it was a ground plus one floor structure and a part of roof made of iron beams collapsed.
Four fire tenders were rushed and it took more than two-and-half-hours to extinguish the fire.
Located in Banjara Hills, the studios which was established in 1975, is spread across 22 acres. Speaking to newsmen, Nagarjuna said it was very unfortunate that the set was gutted as it was constructed to shoot his father’s last movie and that is where Nageswara Rao spent his last days. However, he said he was happy that none was hurt in the fire.