Actor, producer and host Rana Daggubati believes the way audiences choose films has changed significantly in recent years. According to him, today’s viewers are increasingly looking beyond the lead actor and are placing greater importance on the filmmaker behind a project.
Rana observed that the audience mindset has gradually shifted from “Hero First” to “Director First.” He noted that filmmakers with a strong identity and proven track record now have the power to attract audiences on their own.
“New-age audiences have now moved from Hero First to Director First. People are increasingly excited to watch a Rajamouli film, a Nag Ashwin film, a Sandeep Reddy Vanga film, or a Prashanth Neel film,” Rana Daggubati said.
The actor believes this change reflects the evolving preferences of moviegoers, who are showing greater interest in a director’s vision, storytelling style and previous work. As filmmakers build stronger individual brands, their names themselves have become an important factor in generating anticipation for a film.
