PVR MD Ajay Bijli assures that ticket prices will come down in several theatres after the Inox merger: “Our focus is more on getting more and more people inside, rather than looking at ticket price”

By Fenil Seta -

March 4, 2023 - 4:49 PM IST

One of the biggest developments in the history of the Indian exhibition sector took place last year when two of the biggest multiplex chains, Inox and PVR, decided to go for a merger. Earlier this year, the merger was complete and PVR managing director Ajay Bijli spoke about the way forward. One of the assurances he has made is that the average ticket price (ATP) will come down in several of their Inox and PVR properties.

PVR MD Ajay Bijli assures that ticket prices will come down in several theatres after the Inox merger: “Our focus is more on getting more and more people inside, rather than looking at ticket price”

Ajay Bijli told The Economic Times that the merged entity will spend Rs. 700 crores in adding new movie screens and Rs. 100-150 crores in retrofitting the existing auditoriums. His team aims to complete the integration of Inox and PVR in 100 days and to add a whopping 200 screens every year. At present, PVR and Inox collectively have 1642 screens in 113 cities across India. And the number is steadily increasing. On March 1, PVR launched an 11-screen superplex in Lulu Mall, Lucknow. Yesterday, March 3, it also threw open a five-screen multiplex in Nalasopara near Mumbai.

During an interaction with PTI, Ajay Bijli said that he’ll be focusing on property to property basis and improving programing and removing disparities in the ticket price. At this point, he said that the average ticket price might go up as Inox cinemas will also serve non-vegetarian snacks. Till now, Inox had a vegetarian-food-only policy.

But at the same time, Ajay Bijli assured that the benefits from the merger will be passed on to the consumers. He said, “Not everywhere it will be value-driven, it will be volume driven as well. Wherever we feel that ATP has to come down, it's fine for us. The ATP will come down at several places.” He also stated that “Our focus is more on getting more and more people inside, rather than looking at ticket prices.”

Meanwhile, after the merger process is complete, Inox Leisure will cease to exist. The joint entity will henceforth be called PVR Inox and it will employ around 23,000 people across the country. Ajay Bijli will serve as its MD and he also told The Economic Times that PVR Inox will have an 18% market share in screens and a 30% share in box office collections in the country.

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