PVR INOX sees film re-releases gaining traction amid BO uncertainty

Business Standard

2 days ago

Amid uncertainty in box office (BO) collections of new films, India's largest cinema exhibitor, PVR INOX, expects the re-release of films to continue gaining momentum.
'Re-releases are definitely helping us bring people back to the cinema,' said Niharika Bijli, lead strategist, PVR INOX, in an interview with Business Standard. So far, PVR INOX has re-released 287 films post the pandemic, with the frequency of re-releases rising in 2025.
In FY25, re-releases contributed 7.1 million admissions and ₹124 crore (8.5 per cent) to the company's gross box office collection. Bijli anticipates this number to grow further in FY26. She added that the multiplex chain intends to schedule more re-releases during leaner business periods. Additionally, the trend is largely being driven by audiences in metro cities.
On Thursday, PVR INOX re-released the musical drama Umrao Jaan in 4K, after the film's restoration was completed by its makers in collaboration with the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC). Bijli noted that so far, restoration initiatives for old classics have been led by filmmakers, producers, and the NFDC. 'This year, we will also see a mix of both re-releases and restorations,' she said.
Speaking about upcoming restoration content, she mentioned that there are rumours about Sholay being in the pipeline.
Bijli further emphasised that while this segment is still growing, the company is not entirely closed off to the idea of co-investing in the restoration of old films.