Since their much-anticipated releases on Eid, April 11, Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff’s Bade Miyan Chote Miyan and Ajay Devgn’s Maidaan have failed to live up to expectations at the box office. Despite their star-studded casts and hefty budgets, both films have floundered, leaving theatres grappling with dwindling audiences and financial strain.
Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, known for his work with Salman Khan, was crafted with an estimated budget of Rs 350 crore. Meanwhile, Amit Sharma’s Maidaan, backed by Boney Kapoor, also boasted a substantial budget of Rs 250 crore. However, after 13 days in theatres, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan has managed to scrape together only about Rs 56 crore nett in India, while Maidaan has collected approximately Rs 36.3 crores.
Theatre Owners Slash Ticket Prices Upto Rs 30 After Bade Miyan Chote Miyan And Maidaan Failure
In response to the lacklustre performance of these films, theatre owners have been forced to take drastic measures to attract audiences. Reports indicate that many have slashed ticket prices and reduced the number of showings in a bid to fill empty seats.
Rajeev Cinema in Agra, for example, has slashed ticket prices from Rs 80-100 to Rs 30-50 in a desperate attempt to lure patrons. Joginder Mahajan, a distributor and general secretary of the Motion Pictures Association, explained, “They had to resort to price cuts as enough films are not releasing. And if films are released, they are not attracting the public.”
The situation has become so dire that some exhibitors are contemplating temporary closures. Vishek Chauhan, the owner of Roopbani Cinema in Purnia, Bihar, lamented, “So many exhibitors are calling up and asking me, ‘Should we shut down for two months?’… At least, the theatres would save on the electricity bill by shutting down.”
Akshaye Rathi, a film exhibitor and distributor, echoed these concerns, noting, “Without content, it doesn’t make sense to run cinemas and add to losses.”
Film Theatres To SHUT DOWN Temporarily? No Latest Releases Due To Lok Sabha Elections Questioned!
Looking ahead, the outlook for theatres appears bleak. With no major releases scheduled during the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, theatre owners are faced with the prospect of further financial strain. Even iconic venues like Maratha Mandir in Mumbai are considering temporary closures to mitigate losses.
Criticism has also been directed at decision-makers in the film industry for their reluctance to release movies during the election season. Vishek questioned, “During elections, do people just watch election-related news all day? Would they not watch films at all?”
(Also read: Maidaan Makers Start Buy One Ticket Get One Ticket Free Offer From Day 2 Itself After Disastrous Opening)
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