In recent discussions about the future of cinemas in India, industry figures like Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan have emphasized the importance of building more theaters and lowering ticket prices. Sushil Chaudhary, a modern exhibitor and founder of PictureTime, shared his insights during a panel at WAVES 2025. He believes that the solution lies in making cinemas more "accessible and affordable."
Chaudhary highlighted his innovative approach, using inflatable movie theaters to reach remote areas where people typically lack access to films. He noted that the focus should be on keeping the costs of building and operating these cinemas low, making entertainment more reachable for everyone.
He shared a success story about screening Kabir Khan’s film 83 in Ladakh during the pandemic, even with strict capacity limits. In another instance, he set up a cinema in the small town of Bommidi, Tamil Nadu, showing the film Veera Dheera Sooran, which attracted a solid audience turnout.
Chaudhary mentioned that popular films like Pathaan, Gadar 2, and Jawan had significant success in remote areas. For example, Gadar 2 earned over ₹5 lakh weekly on a 140-seat screen, proving that audiences are eager for cinema. His team recently installed a theater in Telangana’s Asifabad, which had been without a cinema for over 30 years, and now enjoys an average occupancy of 30%.
During the discussion, Chaudhary also touched on the challenge of screening old movies. He explained that this practice stems from an outdated distribution system, which often forces cinema owners to show films that may not draw audiences. He advocated for "clever programming" to improve revenue and audience engagement.
The panel also addressed the larger issues facing the film industry, including piracy, which costs the sector billions annually. Chaudhary stressed that the key challenges remain accessibility, affordability, and outreach, vital for reviving the theatrical ecosystem in India.
