Secret meeting at Shivanna’s residence: Kannada stars unite to revive struggling film industry

In a crucial development for the Kannada film industry, a secret high-level meeting took place on Friday morning at the residence of superstar Shivrajkumar (Shivanna) in Nagawara. The one-and-a-half-hour closed-door discussion brought together top Kannada actors including Ganesh, Duniya Vijay, and Dhruva Sarja, along with prominent film exhibitors and distributors.

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The meeting, led by Shivanna, focused on the deepening crisis in Sandalwood—plummeting theater attendance, lack of dedicated screens for Kannada films, rising operational costs, and a sharp decline in the number of films being produced annually. Industry stakeholders voiced serious concerns over producers' challenges and the shrinking viability of running theaters.

Speaking after the meeting, Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce President N.M. Narasimhalu revealed that a delegation would soon meet Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to seek immediate support. “Theaters are closing down, and this is a major concern. We have requested star actors to commit to making at least two films a year,” he said.

The team is expected to urge the government to provide land tax waivers, subsidies, and low-interest loans to support struggling theaters. Narasimhalu emphasized that theaters largely survive on star-driven films, making it vital for leading actors to work more consistently to bring audiences back.

The meeting signals a united front among Sandalwood’s top stars to rescue and revive the Kannada film industry.