Lights, camera... boo! Decoding Ramoji Film City’s ghost stories

Ramoji Film City has long been Hyderabad’s pride. A dreamland of sets where Baahubali swung his sword, RRR roared to life, and filmmakers built kingdoms from scratch. But come Halloween, another kind of story takes centre stage.

..one filled with creaking doors, eerie whispers, and mysterious tales that refuse to fade.Frequently listed among India’s ‘most haunted’ destinations by travel platforms, the sprawling studio complex has become as famous for its ghost stories as for its grand sets. From tourists clutching their cameras to crew members swapping spooky anecdotes during night shoots, Ramoji’s haunted reputation has only grown stronger over the years.

Even a few celebrities have spoken about strange experiences within its vast campus.

Some say it sits atop an ancient battlefield, others blame overactive imaginations. But either way, the legend has become part of its lore.‘It’s your mind playing tricks’Interestingly, many who’ve reported eerie experiences say they only noticed strange sensations after working on horror films. Coincidence? Maybe not.“When we consume a lot of horror content, our brain can amplify fear, even in familiar surroundings,” explains psychologist Dr Swetha Agarwal.

“That same bedroom you’ve slept in for years can suddenly feel haunted after watching a scary movie. It’s a psychological response. Your senses go on high alert, making you perceive things that aren’t really there.”

The battlefield theory: fact or fiction?Many of Ramoji’s ghost tales stem from the claim that it was built atop a Nizam-era battlefield — a theory historians politely dismantle. “The estimated 40,000 deaths from that period occurred across the larger Hyderabad state, including present-day Maharashtra and Karnataka,” clarifies historian Dr Sajjid Shahid.

“The nearest confirmed battle site was actually in Nalgonda, about 80 km away. So, while that era was violent, there’s no evidence of a battlefield where Ramoji now stands.

”Celebrity experiences: Chilling or coincidental?“There are so many haunted places — the prime example being Ramoji Film Studio in Hyderabad, which is considered one of the most haunted places in the world. There have been times when things felt unusual, but thank God, I haven’t seen anything myself till date,” said actress Kajol during an interview with a news portal. However, following a wave of reactions online, she clarified her stance, saying, “I have always found it to be a very professional environment...

It’s a great destination and absolutely safe for families and children," Kajol said in June 2025.

“Firstly, I’m extremely scared of ghosts, and I do believe they exist. I felt something strange in my room while staying at a hotel in Ramoji Film City, Hyderabad. I had already heard stories about the place being haunted. I was alone when I suddenly heard footsteps echoing. Being a complete scaredy-cat, I convinced myself I was imagining things and literally forced myself to sleep. There was no way I could fight a ghost," Taapsee Pannu said in January 2024.

“At night, I’ve felt my bed shake and even had my blanket pulled off — I’m not kidding. I have friends in the industry who stayed in that same hotel and each of them had a story to tell," said actress Raashii Khanna, in April 2024

“Ramoji Film City — many on the internet even call it one of the most haunted places on Earth, though I haven’t experienced anything personally, some female singers who worked with me shared that when they entered the studio alone, they felt someone whispering into their ears," says composer MM Keeravani, in September 2023.

Beyond the rumours: Visitors and insiders share their experiences“I have been a tourist guide for more than 30 years and never came across any such stories. Ramoji is one of the iconic tourist attractions," said John Wilson, a freelance tour guide “I was part of a tour group a few years ago, and one of the people with us said their father had stayed in one of the suites during a film shoot. Apparently, he used to hear knocking on his door late at night, but every time he checked, no one was there. It gave all of us a bit of a chill — whether you believe in ghosts or not, stories like that stick with you," said Ritika M, a visitor from Pune— Divya Shree