For long now, Salman Khan has been advocating the need to bring down ticket prices for Bollywood movies to do better business. Now the superstar is all set to take steps in this direction by launching chain of single screen theatres called ‘Salman Talkies’. The theatres will reportedly be open for cine buffs this Diwali.
According to media reports, Salman is lending his name to these theatres to promote economical movie viewing experience. Six single screens in Mumbai have been roped in for the same. At these theatres, ticket prices would be heavily subsidised. Above all it would be free for children. Reportedly, Salman would inaugurate each screen himself.
Media reports also have it that to give this plan structure, Salman has been meeting exhibitors and distributors for over a year. He plans to expand the chain to Uttar Pradesh by 2017.
Reportedly the first movies which will release in these talkies will be ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ and ‘Shivaay’.
Only recently at the launch of jewellery line of ‘Being Human’, Salman was seen lamenting over the price of tickets. He had said that in ticket price of Rs 400-500 in tier one cities is disheartening.
An insider close to Salman told a leading daily that Salman’s wants his movies to earn Rs 200 crore by having tickets priced at Rs 100. The source added that if this plan fails, they would try something else but Salman is a strong believer of bringing down of ticket prices.
Earlier this year, Salman had said that one of the biggest reasons that regional movies like ‘Natsamrat’ and ‘Sairat’ see greater footfalls is because of low price tickets.
“It's because of the economics that Marathi films like Natsamrat and Sairat are getting more footfalls. With Hindi films the numbers are higher but we need the footfalls too,” Salman had said.
