India’s leading multiplex operator, PVR Inox, reported that its quarterly profit nearly tripled, fueled by a strong lineup of Bollywood releases and recent tax reductions that encouraged more moviegoers to visit theaters.

Revenues for the three months ended December 31 rose nearly 10%, supported by higher footfall, increased ticket prices, and additional income from food and beverage sales. Costs during the period increased by only 2.5%, allowing margins to expand.

Footfall Growth Driven by ‘Dhurandhar’

Footfall at PVR Inox increased by nearly 9% year-on-year in the reported quarter. The surge was largely driven by the Bollywood spy blockbuster “Dhurandhar”, which reportedly earned a record 10 billion rupees ($110 million) in overall sales. This contributed to a 13% growth in gross box-office collections in 2025.

The multiplex chain is counting on the film’s upcoming sequel to sustain momentum in the January-March quarter. “Sequels now often perform as well as the original,” said Executive Director Sanjeev Kumar Bijli in a post-earnings interview. He added that the January response has been satisfactory, and expects box-office collections to grow 14%-15% in 2026.

Innovative Strategies to Increase Footfall

PVR Inox, formed by the 2023 merger of PVR and Inox, has taken steps to attract more moviegoers. These include:

• Offering discounted tickets

• Screening popular older films

• Converting select theaters into multi-purpose destinations for dining, gaming, and co-working

These efforts come as the sector gradually recovers from years of low attendance, caused by uneven blockbuster releases, weak urban spending, and growing competition from streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime.

Financial Highlights

• Consolidated profit for the December quarter rose to 957 million rupees ($10.6 million) from 359 million rupees a year earlier.

• Profit margins expanded to 5%, up from 2% in the same period last year.

• The company recorded a one-time charge of 446 million rupees due to India’s new labour laws.

• Average ticket prices and food and beverage spending per visitor increased by about 4% each.

Bijli expects food and beverage revenues per visitor to continue growing at 4%-5% in the current quarter.

Outlook for 2026

With a strong film lineup and innovative audience engagement strategies, PVR Inox aims to sustain growth in both box-office collections and ancillary revenue streams in 2026.