Shahrukh Khan’s Smart Idea – ‘Cheap Theatres’

While the lack of quality content might be one reason people are staying away from theatres, a much more serious issue is at play — ticket and snack prices. Over the years, going to the movies has become an expensive affair. With the rise of multiplexes, the cost has skyrocketed, pushing middle-class audiences toward OTT platforms and piracy. This shift has significantly hurt the Bollywood business. To combat this, filmmakers occasionally offer ₹99 tickets or buy-one-get-one-free deals. Still, these temporary measures haven’t made a major impact. That’s where Shah Rukh Khan’s recent idea comes in.

Speaking as a guest at the ongoing Waves Summit 2025, Shah Rukh proposed an interesting solution. He suggested setting up cheap theatres in every town, screening Indian films across languages, and keeping ticket prices affordable. His logic is sound — currently, multiplex tickets range from ₹200 to ₹500 on average. While this might be acceptable for big-budget pan-India films like Pushpa, RRR, or Kalki, even producers of smaller films featuring tier-2 heroes are following the same pricing model.

As a result, the common man has been alienated. If, as Shah Rukh proposed, single-screen theatres with basic facilities offered tickets under ₹100, there’s a good chance more people would turn up regardless of whether the film is a hit or flop. While the idea is commendable, implementation won’t be easy in an industry dominated by monopolies. Producers, who expect returns within a week or two, are unlikely to embrace the concept of cheap theatres so quickly. Still, if stakeholders start seriously considering such alternatives and analysing the pros and cons, there may be hope for such initiatives in the future.