PVR Inox Sees India Box Office Exceed Pre-Pandemic Levels

India's theatrical market has demonstrated remarkable resilience, emerging as one of Asia's few territories to surpass pre-pandemic box office revenues. This growth has occurred despite the concurrent rise of streaming services and challenges faced by the Hollywood pipeline, which have impacted cinema attendance in other global regions. In 2025, the Indian box office achieved a record-breaking $1.48 billion, driven by a strong slate of Hindi-language films.

Sanjeev Kumar Bijli, Managing Director of PVR Inox, highlighted this recovery in an exclusive interview. He noted that the company's strategic expansion plans are well underway, with a focus on increasing screen count across the country. PVR Inox aims to add approximately 150-170 new screens by the end of the current fiscal year, a significant step in broadening access to the cinematic experience. This expansion is particularly concentrated in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, indicating a deliberate effort to tap into underserved markets and further solidify the company's dominant position.

Bijli also commented on PVR Inox's presence at the Cannes Film Festival, where the company made several acquisitions. These acquisitions are expected to bolster the content pipeline for Indian audiences, potentially including a mix of international and regional cinema. The company's strategy involves curating a diverse range of films to cater to evolving viewer preferences and maintain the momentum of the theatrical resurgence. The success of recent Bollywood releases, such as "Fighter" and "Shaitaan," underscores the strong demand for local content and its ability to draw audiences back to cinemas.

The positive trajectory of the Indian box office contrasts sharply with global trends, where many markets are still struggling to recover to 2019 levels. PVR Inox's performance suggests that a combination of robust local content, strategic expansion, and a deep understanding of audience behavior can create a thriving cinema ecosystem, even in the face of digital competition. The company's proactive approach to content acquisition and venue development positions it favorably for continued growth in the coming years.