Hyderabad, May 22 (IANS): Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao on Friday announced that the film shootings, post-production works, which were stopped due to the lockdown, would be resumed in a phased manner.

At a meeting with prominent personalities at his official residence Pragati Bhavan, the Chief Minister suggested that everyone concerned follow the lockdown conditions and preventive measures to contain Covid-19 and conduct shootings strictly following the self-regulation.

Rao directed the officials concerned to prepare guidelines on how to conduct film shootings in the state.

KCR, as the Chief Minister is popularly known, felt that since lakhs of people are depending on the film industry, there was a need to allow the film shootings, post-production work, reopening of the theatres in a phased manner.

The CM suggested that initially, indoor production works with less number of people should be commenced. In the next phase, in June the film shootings can begin. Finally, based on the situation then, a decision on the film theatres' reopening can be taken.

He asked the film personalities to have a meeting with the Cinematography Minister, Chief Secretary and the officials concerned to finalise guidelines on how many people should be allowed to be part of the shootings and what precautions should be taken.

The government would subsequently issue categorical guidelines on the matter and give permission to the shootings. After a few days of shootings, an estimate can be made on the situation and then a decision on the reopening of the film theatres will be taken.

Ministers Talasani Srinivas Yadav, Niranjan Reddy, Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, leading actors Chiranjeevi and Nagarjuna, well-known filmmakers D. Suresh Babu, Allu Aravind, N. Shankar, Rajamouli, Dil Raju, Trivikram Srinivas, Kiran, Radhakrishna, Koratala Siva, C. Kalyan, Meher Ramesh, Dhamu and others participated in the meeting.