Aamir Khan Champions Expansion of Cinema Infrastructure in India
Bollywood icon Aamir Khan has issued a compelling call for a significant increase in the number of cinema halls across India, highlighting this as a critical step to unlock the nation's vast film industry potential. In a recent interview with Variety India, Khan pointed out that India's theatrical infrastructure is severely lagging behind global competitors, which directly limits box office revenues and audience reach.
The Stark Global Comparison: India vs. China
Aamir Khan provided a striking comparison between India and China, noting that China boasts approximately one lakh (100,000) cinema screens, while India has only around 9,000. This disparity means India possesses merely one-tenth the number of outlets available in China. Khan emphasized that this gap is a primary reason why major films in China can generate business worth billions of U.S. dollars domestically alone, whereas Indian films struggle to achieve similar scales despite having a massive population and diverse cinematic culture.
"India is a huge country; it's like a continent, massive, with each state having its own language, culture, and films," Khan explained. "To reach a lot more people, we need many more cinema halls—more outlets. When we increase our number of screens, you'll see the business expand at the grassroots level. The base of your pyramid will go wide."
The Dhurandhar Example: A Missed Opportunity
Citing the recent blockbuster Dhurandhar, starring Ranveer Singh, Aamir Khan illustrated the potential impact of increased screens. Dhurandhar has already become Bollywood's all-time highest grosser, earning over ₹1,300 crore worldwide. However, Khan posed a thought-provoking question: What if it had been released on 15,000 screens instead of the current 5,000?
"Imagine if Dhurandhar had been released in not 5,000 screens but in 15,000 screens. Massive!" he exclaimed. "This is what I'm trying to say. The real change will come when the number of screens goes up, because there are so many districts in India right now that don't have a single screen."
Economic and Cultural Implications
The expansion of cinema screens is not just about boosting box office numbers; it has broader economic and cultural implications:
- Enhanced Business Growth: More screens would allow films to reach wider audiences, increasing revenue and supporting the entire film ecosystem.
- Regional Representation: With India's diverse linguistic and cultural landscape, additional cinemas could promote regional films and foster local talent.
- Global Competitiveness: By closing the infrastructure gap with countries like China and the USA, India can strengthen its position in the global film market.
Aamir Khan reiterated that increasing the number of cinema screens is essential for the Indian film industry to compete on the world stage. "The comparison is clear," he said. "We need to expand our outlets to see transformative growth. This isn't just about one film; it's about building a foundation for the future of Indian cinema."
