There has been a long-standing narrative in the Telugu film industry around the so-called 'Aa Naluguru' — a label used to collectively describe Allu Aravind, Suresh Babu, Asian Sunil, and Dil Raju, suggesting that these four individuals control a significant portion of the theatrical business in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
However, this notion has recently come under scrutiny, especially after Allu Aravind held a press meet explicitly requesting the media to exclude his name and photograph from that group, stating clearly that he is not part of this so-called syndicate.
His statement has prompted many to take a closer look at the actual picture of theatre ownership and influence in the two Telugu-speaking states.
In Andhra Pradesh, the total number of theatres stands at 1,093. Out of these, 317 are single-screen theatres run by individual owners, while 161 are multiplexes operated by national chains or local partners. The remaining 227 screens are distributed among various other entities.
As for the individuals often grouped under 'Aa Naluguru', the real presence is surprisingly limited. Suresh Babu controls 64 screens, Dil Raju operates 31, and the Geetha chain (including G3, G6, G7) under the Geetha Arts banner holds 32 screens.
Asian Sunil, notably, has no theatres in Andhra Pradesh. Interestingly, a relatively less-discussed player, UV Creations, owns 37 theatres in the state — a figure higher than both Dil Raju and Geetha Arts — yet they rarely get mentioned in the mainstream narrative.
Moving to Telangana, where the total number of screens is 570, comprising 289 single screens and 281 multiplexes, the dynamics shift significantly.
Asian Sunil emerges as the dominant player here, with 61 single screens and 71 multiplexes under his control. Dil Raju follows at a distance with 17 multiplexes. Mythri Exhibitors holds 14 screens.
Allu Aravind does not have direct ownership but shares some stake in AAA Multiplexes alongside Asian Sunil. Suresh Babu, has no screens in the state. The rest of the theatres are owned by a scattered mix of individual owners and corporate chains.
So, when we examine the actual ownership data, it becomes clear that the influence of the so-called 'Aa Naluguru' is far more limited than popularly believed — especially in Andhra Pradesh, where their collective presence is marginal.
In Telangana, it is essentially Asian Sunil who wields significant power in the exhibition sector, with the others playing relatively minor roles. National multiplex chains and independent owners fill the rest of the market.
This is the real picture behind the myth — one that is far more nuanced and less centralized than the label ‘Aa Naluguru’ suggests.
