Disney-UTVTelegu language industry is India’s second largest film sector after the mainstream Hindi Bollywood industry and India’s leading production studio, Disney-UTV is leaving no chance to forward one more step into the South Indian film industry. Disney-UTV has announced its first South Indian Telegu language project, which will feature the leading Telegu actor Mahesh Babu. The film is currently unnamed and will begin production in July 2014 and will be written and directed by Koratala Siva whose credits include the hit Mirchi.

While the studio has been active in the South Indian industry with features in Malayalam and Tamil languages, its first Telegu language project aims to further expand Disney UTV’s South Indian footprint. The studio is already a major player in the mainstream Hindi Bollywood industry with recent hits including Chennai Express, featuring Shah Rukh Khan.

“We are extremely delighted to begin our journey in the Telugu film industry, which is the second biggest industry in India after Hindi films. We believe in the power of great storytelling and have proven the same in the south with our Malayalam and Tamil slate,” said Disney-UTV chief of South Indian business, G. Dhananjayan.

The Disney-UTV studio first ventured into south Indian cinema in 2011 with Tamil titles Deiva Thirumagal and Muran, and followed with this summer’s Settai, which is a remake of Hindi comedy Delhi Belly and comedy hit Husbands in Goa in Malayalam.

In the recent times, Hollywood majors are getting active in local productions and have been expanding southwards after first establishing a foothold in Bollywood. Fox Star Studios has also been strengthening its south Indian slate via a recent alliance with well-known producer C.V. Kumar’s banner Thirukumaran Entertainment. The agreement covers two projects — Mundasupatti and V. Chitram — both slated for release in 2014. Fox Star Studio first established itself in Bollywood with mainstream releases such My Name Is Khan, and now has expanded into south India by collaborating with leading Tamil producer/director A. R. Murugadoss, which saw the 2011 release Engaeyum Eppothum (Anywhere, Anytime) and this year’s Vathikuchi (Matchstick).