Long before audiences knew him as the powerful Bhallaladeva from Baahubali, Rana Daggubati was working quietly behind the scenes in Indian cinema as a visual effects artist. That early connection with VFX made the actor-producer a fitting guest at a major moment for the industry — the launch of Netflix’s Eyeline Studios facility in Hyderabad, a move that signals the growing importance of India in global visual effects production.
The new studio, known for contributing to hit international titles like Stranger Things and Wednesday, opened its first state-of-the-art facility in India on Thursday. Rana attended the launch event and spoke about how the country’s filmmaking ecosystem has evolved over the past two decades.
Rana Daggubati Credits Audiences for Pushing Bigger Cinema
Speaking during the event, Rana highlighted how Hyderabad has gradually become a key centre for cinematic innovation in India. According to him, much of this progress is driven by audiences who constantly demand larger, more ambitious storytelling.
The actor thanked viewers for encouraging filmmakers to experiment with scale and technology. He pointed out that many major Indian productions rely heavily on technicians and creative talent based in Hyderabad. Films like Baahubali, Kalki 2898 AD, and RRR showcase how the city’s talent pool has helped shape large-scale cinematic spectacles.
Directed by SS Rajamouli, the Baahubali franchise remains one of Indian cinema’s biggest successes. The two films together earned roughly ₹2400 crore worldwide and starred Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty, Ramya Krishnan, Tamannaah Bhatia, and Sathyaraj. Similarly, Rajamouli’s RRR and Nag Ashwin’s Kalki 2898 AD also turned into global blockbusters, each crossing the ₹1000 crore mark at the box office.
From VFX Artist to Leading Actor
Rana also spoke about his own journey with visual effects, recalling the time when he first entered the industry around 2006 as a young professional working in VFX. At just 21 years old, he was closely observing how technology was beginning to reshape filmmaking.
Over the years, the actor has witnessed major advancements in CGI, visual effects pipelines, and AI-powered production tools. According to Rana, modern filmmaking technology has reached a stage where directors can now translate their imagination onto the screen with far greater precision.
He noted that the current moment is particularly exciting for storytellers because technological capabilities now allow ambitious cinematic worlds to be realised in ways that were once impossible.
Hyderabad Emerging as a Global Film Tech Hub
The Hyderabad facility of Eyeline Studios was officially inaugurated earlier in the day by Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, who emphasized the city’s growing reputation as a centre for film technology and innovation.
The Chief Minister highlighted the state government’s plans to strengthen the region’s media and entertainment ecosystem, even inviting Netflix to consider establishing a larger presence in the upcoming Bharat Future City project being developed on the outskirts of Hyderabad.
The new 32,000-square-foot Eyeline Studios facility sits in the heart of the city and is equipped with advanced technology for high-end visual effects production and generative virtual effects. According to Netflix, the studio will operate on a hybrid cloud infrastructure, allowing artists to collaborate globally while working on complex VFX-heavy projects.
Final Words
The launch of Eyeline Studios in Hyderabad marks another milestone in India’s rapidly expanding visual effects landscape. With global streaming giants investing in advanced production infrastructure and filmmakers pushing creative boundaries, the country’s film industry is entering an era where technology and storytelling are evolving together.
For Rana Daggubati — who began his career experimenting with VFX before becoming one of Indian cinema’s most recognisable faces — the moment also serves as a reminder of how far the industry has come. And if the current momentum continues, Hyderabad may soon cement its position as one of the world’s key hubs for cinematic innovation.
