285
/ 3
Min Read
Cinema exhibitor PVR INOX is set to add approximately 200 screens over the next two years, with a planned investment of up to Rs 400 crore, according to Executive Director Sanjeev Kumar Bijli. “This financial year, 2025-26, we have about 100 screen openings planned, and out of which we have opened about 20 already in the first quarter, and we have another 82 to go. So, we are on track to open about 100 screens this year,” he said when asked about the company’s expansion plans.
Out of the 100 screens, 40 screens are in South India, including Hyderabad, Bangalore and Hubli. At the same time, some cinemas will come up in Mumbai, Delhi, and Gurugram, and some smaller towns like Siliguri, Jabalpur, Leh and Gangtok. “It is a bit of a mixed bag, but 40% of this (expansion) remains in South India, and about 20% in smaller towns,” Bijli said.
Even going forward, he said, “We have quite a few cinemas (lined up) for 2026-27 as well. We have 80 screens opening (planned), but we can easily get it stretched to about 100…but visibility (as of now) is of 80 screens and out of that also about 40% is again in South India”.
When asked about the investment for the expansion, he said, “Roughly, if you look at this year, if we’re opening about 100 screens, then an average screen costs about Rs 3.5 crore per screen. So, that comes to about Rs 350 crore. If we assume that 50% of that is coming from a combination of FOCO (franchise owned company operated) and asset light, then our contribution would be half at about Rs 175 to 200 crore”. For 200 screens that the company has planned, its investment will be around Rs 350-400 crore.
Bijli said that after adding 200 screens in the next two years, PVR INOX will have “close to 2,000 screens” in total.
As part of the company’s expansion in South India, PVR INOX will open a four-screen property later this week in Hyderabad, which will take its total screen count in Telangana to 110. It has lined up a total of 26 new screens to be added in the state in FY26. The expansion will primarily target South India, followed by a foray into smaller cities and towns across the country, confirms a company official, confirms a company official.
“Telangana is a very significant market. It has always done very well for us because of the very strong content from Telangana. Telugu films are extremely loved and accepted. The propensity to watch movies there is very high,” he noted. There are still pockets in Hyderabad that do not have a good multiplex.
There are certain catchments which are unserviced, he said, adding that “we are excited about expanding into the city of Hyderabad, which is a growing city”.
