Salman Khan advocates for ticket price caps and more theaters
What's the story
Speaking at the promotional event of his upcoming film Sikandar on Thursday, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan said that he wants a pan-India price cap on movie tickets, like the Karnataka government's recent ₹200 cap.
He also proposed capping prices for popcorn and cold drinks, with producers getting a cut from the sale.
Under-screened market
Khan highlighted India's shortage of cinema halls
Khan further stressed the need for more cinema halls in India, saying the country falls short of at least 20,000 theaters.
"We are releasing our films in just 6,000 screens. We were shooting for Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015) in Mandawa, Rajasthan, from where 100 billionaires have come out. There's not a single theater in that town. You have to drive 2 1/2 hours to see a film. Hence, there's a shortage of cinema halls," he lamented.
Cinema evolution
Khan discussed the changing landscape of mass cinema
When asked to define mass cinema, Khan said the line between mass and class cinema has faded.
He noticed people now whistle even in multiplexes, something that was once reserved for single-screen theaters like Gaiety-Galaxy.
"People pay a huge amount and buy tickets in black... Ideally, they should be paying the same amount - ₹1,500 or ₹2,000 - and watch the film in a multiplex," Khan remarked.
Film details
'Sikandar' gears up for an action-filled release
Sikandar is set to release on Sunday, coinciding with Eid al-Fitr.
Directed by AR Murugadoss and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, the film features Rashmika Mandanna, Kajal Aggarwal, Sathyaraj, Sharman Joshi, and Prateik Babbar.
With a budget of ₹200 crore, the movie follows Sikandar's intense journey in a gripping storyline. The music is composed by Pritam, with a background score by Santhosh Narayanan.