After multiple stars like Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan pointed out the serious lack of cinema halls in India, it seems PVR INOX has taken note. The company is now planning to add about 200 screens over the next two years.
With an investment of up to ₹400 crore, Executive Director Sanjeev Kumar Bijli shared that the expansion will primarily focus on South India, followed by smaller cities and towns.
Their goal is to open around 100 screens in the 2025–26 financial year. They’ve already launched 20 in the first quarter, with 82 more to go.
Out of these 100 screens, 40 will be in South Indian cities like Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Hubli. Additionally, new cinemas will open in metros such as Mumbai, Delhi, and Gurugram, as well as smaller towns like Siliguri, Jabalpur, Leh, and Gangtok.
If this target is met, PVR INOX will have close to 2,000 screens across the country within the next two years.
As exciting as this news sounds, the real concern for audiences is whether this expansion will make the film-watching experience more affordable.
Currently, the biggest complaint from moviegoers is the high prices of food and beverages, along with expensive ticket rates.
While the expansion increases accessibility, it doesn’t necessarily promise affordability.
What the country truly needs is more single-screen theatres in districts and rural areas, so that films can reach wider audiences and cinema becomes a welcoming experience for all, not just for urban viewers.
So, while this expansion is definitely promising, people are hoping it brings with it a more pocket-friendly moviegoing experience.
