Aamir Khan Highlights Need for More Cinema Screens in India

Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan on Friday emphasized the urgent need for greater investment in cinema infrastructure across India, citing that only 2 per cent of the country’s population currently watches films in theatres. Speaking at the inaugural World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES), the actor said that despite India’s rich film culture, access to cinema halls remains severely limited.

Participating in a session titled “Studios of the Future: Putting India on World Studio Map,” the 60-year-old actor drew attention to the stark contrast between India and countries like the United States and China in terms of the number of movie screens available per capita.

“India is a cinema-loving nation, but our infrastructure does not reflect that,” Khan said. “Compared to the US and China, we have far fewer screens, which restricts access for a majority of the population. We need to invest heavily in building more theatres across the country, especially in smaller towns and rural areas.”

Khan stressed that increasing the number of screens would not only boost theatrical revenues but also provide a more inclusive entertainment experience for audiences from all regions. He also touched upon the role of modern studios in globalizing Indian cinema and urged policymakers and private players to recognize the potential for growth in the sector.

The WAVES summit, aimed at strengthening India’s position in the global media and entertainment landscape, continues over the weekend with industry leaders, creators, and policymakers discussing innovations and challenges in the audiovisual space.