ITV

Tag: Sitaare Zameen Par

  • Blockbusters and billions boost PVR Inox in Q1 of FY’26

    Blockbusters and billions boost PVR Inox in Q1 of FY’26

    MUMBAI: Seats taken, debts shaken PVR INOX sets the tone for a blockbuster FY’26. If the opening quarter of FY’26 is any clue, PVR Inox isn’t just selling popcorn, it’s popping the lid off cinema’s revival story. The multiplex major has posted a stellar Q1 performance for the quarter ending June 30, 2025, powered by Bollywood box office blitzes, Hollywood hits, and a strategic play on alternative programming and screen expansion.

    Cinema seats saw healthy occupation as a total of 10 films crossed the Rs 100 crore mark, with three of them zooming past Rs 200 crore, setting the tone for a more balanced and consistent theatrical performance.

    Bollywood brought in blockbuster numbers for PVR Inox, with collections jumping 38 per cent year-on-year. The charge was led by crowd-pullers like Raid 2, Sitaare Zameen Par, Kesari Chapter 2, Housefull 5, and Jaat all five entered the Rs 100 crore club, and three soared past the Rs 200 crore milestone.

    Hollywood wasn’t far behind, registering a whopping 72% YoY growth for the exhibitor. Mega franchises like Mission Impossible, Final Destination: Bloodlines, Ballerina, and the box office juggernaut F1 drove this spike especially on premium formats like IMAX and 4DX, where admissions rose 20 per cent YoY.

    Regional cinema remained a steady performer, with titles like Tamil’s Good Bad Ugly, Malayalam’s Thudarum, and Tourist Family holding the fort.

    Launched in April, the Blockbuster Tuesdays initiative offering tickets at just Rs 99 proved to be more than a gimmick. It brought in nearly 1 million new and lapsed transactors, giving weekdays a much-needed footfall bump.

    Meanwhile, the exhibitor’s push into alternate programming including IPL match screenings, concerts, comedy shows, and film re-releases contributed over 5 lakh admissions this quarter, reinforcing cinemas as multipurpose destinations.

    That said, the quarter wasn’t without hiccups. PVR Inox estimated a loss of 6–7 lakh admissions due to external disruptions like Operation Sindoor, protests around Punjabi film Akaal, and the suspension of Sardaarji 3.

    Sticking to its asset-light strategy, PVR INOX added 20 new screens this quarter, 14 of which were under FOCO and Asset-Light models. With 55 more screens signed under FOCO and 72 under Asset-Light, expansion continues with minimal capital drag.

    Financially, net debt stood at Rs 8,915 million as of 30 June 2025, a Rs 607 million reduction from March 2025 and a sharp Rs 5,389 million (38 per cent) decline since the merger, signalling strong deleveraging.

    The multiplex chain is optimistic about the coming months, with July already clocking the highest monthly admissions in the past 18 months. Hits like Saiyaara, Superman, Mahavtar Narsimha, and Metro In Dino have already found their footing, while much-anticipated releases like War 2, Border 2, Love & War, and Hollywood heavyweights like Avatar: Fire and Ash and The Conjuring: Last Rites promise more gold at the box office.

    Regional biggies such as Coolie, Toxic, Akhanda 2, and Kantara: A Legend Chapter 1 will further bolster the slate.

    With a footprint of 1,745 screens across 353 cinemas in 111 cities across India and Sri Lanka, and a focus on lean growth, PVR Inox is eyeing a full house not just in theatres, but on the balance sheet too.

    As PVR Inox managing director Ajay Bijli summed it up, “The momentum has been supported by a well-performing and steady content slate, giving us confidence in the year ahead.”

    And if Q1 is anything to go by, FY’26 might just be the comeback reel Indian cinema’s been waiting for.

     

  • Aamir Khan takes ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ straight to YouTube in a first-of-its-kind digital premiere

    Aamir Khan takes ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ straight to YouTube in a first-of-its-kind digital premiere

    MUMBAI: Aamir Khan is ripping up the rulebook. In a landmark move, the actor-producer is releasing his blockbuster Sitaare Zameen Par directly on YouTube Movies-on-Demand from 1 August 2025, bypassing traditional OTT platforms and putting premium cinema within reach of every household.

    Actor-producer Aamir Khan stated, “For the past 15 years I have been struggling with the challenge of how to reach audiences who do not have geographical access to theatres, or those who are unable to make it to theatres for various reasons. Finally the time for the perfect storm has come. With our government bringing in UPI and India becoming no 1 in the world in electronic payments, with internet penetration in India having grown dramatically and growing everyday, and with YouTube being on most devices, we can finally reach vast sections of people in India, and a significant part of the world. My dream is that Cinema should reach everyone at a reasonable and affordable price. I want people to have the ease of watching Cinema when they want, where they want. If this idea works, Creative voices can tell different stories breaking geographical and other barriers. This will also be a great opportunity for younger creative people entering the field of Cinema. If this idea works, then I see this as a win-win for all.”

    YouTube India country managing director, Gunjan Soni highlighted the strategic significance of this partnership. “The digital launch of Sitaare Zameen Par exclusively on YouTube underscores a significant step towards democratizing Indian film distribution at a global scale. YouTube is already a key digital destination for premium content, and we’re excited to offer filmmakers and content owners not only our unparalleled digital reach but also the control and flexibility to meet their audiences where they are. Today’s launch is far more than a release – YouTube is laying out the red carpet for Indian cinema to stride onto the global stage.”

    The film, which has already grossed over Rs 250 crore worldwide, will be available in India for Rs 100 and in 38 international markets including the US, UK, Australia, Germany and Singapore, with localised pricing and subtitles.

    A spiritual successor to his 2007 classic Taare Zameen Par, the heartwarming drama stars Aamir Khan, Genelia Deshmukh and ten actors with intellectual disabilities, making inclusivity its emotional core.

    This YouTube-first strategy is a radical experiment that not only turns every screen into a theatre but also cements YouTube’s growing clout in post-theatrical film distribution. With YouTube already reaching 4 out of 5 internet users in India, this could reshape how films find their audiences.

    Directed by RS Prasanna and written by Divy Nidhi Sharma, the film will also be available in dubbed and subtitled versions for global audiences. Next up for Aamir Khan Productions: Lahore 1947 starring Sunny Deol and Preity Zinta, and Ek Din featuring Junaid Khan and Sai Pallavi.

    Cinema, it seems, just found its biggest digital stage.

  • JioStar Kids’ Network teams up with Aamir Khan’s Sitaare Zameen Par for a toon-filled mega contest

    JioStar Kids’ Network teams up with Aamir Khan’s Sitaare Zameen Par for a toon-filled mega contest

    MUMBAI: Cinema just met cartoons, and kids across India are cheering. In a blockbuster cross-screen move, JioStar Kids’ Network has partnered with the upcoming Hindi cinema release Sitaare Zameen Par, offering children a once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet Aamir Khan—on and beyond their TV screens.

    The campaign is part of a strategic collaboration between the film’s marketing team and JioStar Kids’ Network, which operates top kids’ channels like Nick, Sonic, Disney Channel and Hungama. As the official Kids channel partner for the film, JioStar is rolling out a week-long promotional blitz featuring Aamir Khan alongside the network’s beloved toon characters.

    At the centre of the campaign is a high-energy on-air contest where lucky winners get to meet the superstar himself. Kids are invited to tune in and participate, with the contest designed to deepen viewer engagement through storytelling, imagination, and real-world rewards.

    This partnership blends the magic of cinema with the influence of JioStar toons, offering a real-world experience that not only attracts young audiences but also deepens brand love and engagement in ways that go beyond the screen.

    JioStar, known for crafting homegrown characters and filling content gaps in the kids’ space, brings its audience insights and engagement know-how to the table—ensuring that the partnership does more than promote a film. It builds cultural recall and excitement, especially with a title as emotive as Sitaare Zameen Par, set to release in cinemas on 20 June.

    With Aamir Khan’s star power, JioStar’s cartoon magic, and a campaign that brings both together, kids are in for a treat—and maybe, a handshake with a superstar.

  • Aamir Khan swaps silver screen for cricket commentary box in IPL playoffs and final

    Aamir Khan swaps silver screen for cricket commentary box in IPL playoffs and final

    MUMBAI: Mumbai’s cricket fever just got a Hindi cinema twist. Aamir Khan, the thinking man’s action hero, is ditching his director’s chair for the commentary box as JioStar unveiled its star-studded lineup for the Tata IPL playoff and final on 1 June and 3 June respectively.

    The Lagaan legend, whose cricket credentials go beyond mere acting, donned the headset alongside seasoned commentators for Qualifier 2 and will also do so for the final showdown. Khan will join the pre-show festivities on Star Sports and JioHotstar with Genelia D’Souza and the cast of his upcoming film Sitaare Zameen Par, promising viewers a heady cocktail of cinema and cricket on 3 June.

    But this isn’t just celebrity window-dressing. Khan plans to roll up his sleeves, dissect match strategies, make bold predictions, and—true to form—inject his trademark perfectionism into play-by-play analysis. The actor-turned-pundit will share the mic with JioStar’s panel of former IPL champions, creating what promises to be television gold.

    “Nothing matches the energy and stakes of the Tata IPL playoffs and I’m quite excited to be at JioStar’s studios for these crucial playoff games,” Khan said. “Personally, I think both matches are going to be a cracker considering the teams still in contention, and I’m looking forward to commentating off the field.”

    The coverage began from 29 May  through 3 June, with Khan’s commentary debut bookending the tournament’s climactic weekend. Cricket purists and Hindi cinema buffs alike can catch the action exclusively on Star Sports Network and JioHotstar.

    If Khan brings half the intensity he showed in Dangal to the commentary box, viewers are in for a treat that’s equal parts sporting spectacle and entertainment extravaganza.