Even as Netflix is fielding criticism online, Rana Daggubati is proud that his Telugu presentation, Krishna and his Leela, has grabbed eyeballs. A section of the audience has alleged that the film — which shows the protagonist named Krishna having sexual encounters with several women, one of whom is named Radha — hurts religious sentiments. Daggubati keeps mum on the controversy, instead focussing on how the movie has appealed to the youth. "When I heard the story, I felt it would easily connect with the youngsters. It had pop culture references while telling a simple story that is also globally relevant. In a way, it's perfect that it released on an OTT platform. At its heart, the story resonated with teens and young adults," he says.

If streaming platforms have witnessed a sharp spike in viewership during the lockdown, it has also led to the audiences taking keen interest in regional cinema. Daggubati perceives it as a step in the right direction. "Good stories have always broken language and cultural barriers. The Internet opened up the possibility of exploring regional cinema a few years ago, and now, OTT platforms have made it even more accessible," he analyses.