WATCH | Major fire at Akkineni family's Annapurna Studios in Hyderabad chars sets of 'Manam' and  Chiranjeevi's 'Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy'

A major fire broke out at Tollywood's famous Annapoorna Studios in Hyderabad's Banjara Hills, on Monday evening. It is believed to have occurred between 5.30 and 6 pm on two film sets located on the premises of the 22-acre studio, owned by actor Akkineni Nagarjuna.

One of the sets, which is a beautiful house, was erected for the superhit Telugu film 'Manam' that featured three generations of the Akkineni family. The other set is for Chiranjeevi's 'Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy', an upcoming big-budget period flick based on the life of legendary freedom fighter Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy.

Annapoorna Studio set on fire... pic.twitter.com/hC4EwZQgIv

— Ramesh Chand A (@jdchandu) November 13, 2017

While the cause of the fire is not confirmed yet, some reports say that a short circuit is the reason for the fire. Four fire tenders are on the spot, said news agency ANI.

Media reports state that two film sets, made of wood, caught fire and the fire spread quickly. Studio staff initially tried to put out the fire with the available extinguishers but had to call fire tenders for help, which arrived late due to peak hour traffic. The fire tenders apparently had to enter through the back door.

TV reports say that the sets have been completely burnt.

Akhil, Nagarjuna Akkineni's younger son later tweeted:

Unfortunately there was a fire accident in Annapurna studios this evening. Fortunately it was contained and no one was injured. Thank god

— Akhil Akkineni (@AkhilAkkineni8) November 13, 2017

It is also reported that quite a number of people were present at the studio today as it is a regular spot for shooting serials, reality shows and films. They were later evacuated. No loss of life has been reported. 

Meanwhile, Nagarjuna told media that as it was a private property, nobody was allowed access. It was reported that media crew had reached the spot before the fire tenders did.

#Nagarjuna responds on fire accident took place at Manam Set in Annapurna Studios #Hyderabad pic.twitter.com/YZKpwAOUay

— Nellutla Kavitha (@iamKavithaRao) November 13, 2017

The Akkineni family, who built the house featured in 'Manam', let the set remain as it was the last shooting spot of the late Akkineni Nageswara Rao. The house has since then been used for various other films.

In 2011 and 2013 too, there were fire accidents at Annapoorna Studios.

Further details are awaited.

The 2014 'Manam' starred Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Nagarjuna, Naga Chaitanya and Samantha Ruth Prabhu, who got married recently to Naga Chaitanya and now calls herself as Samantha Akkineni. 'Manam' was Nageswara Rao's last film before he passed away in January 2014. Annapoorna Studios was set up in 1975 as a production and distribution company by Nageswara Rao and was named after his wife.

'Sye Raa...', a historic biopic based on Telugu freedom fighter Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy is directed by Surender Reddy and produced by Ram Charan Teja. It stars Chiranjeevi, Nayantara, Amitabh Bachchan, Sudeep, Vijay Sethupathi and Jagapati Babu and is being made at a budget of Rs 150 crore.