Cinema exhibition giant PVR INOX has revealed its plans to expand its national presence by adding approximately 200 new screens over the next two years. The project will involve a capital investment of ₹350–400 crore, according to Executive Director Sanjeev Kumar Bijli, in an interview with PTI on Wednesday.
“We are on track to open about 100 screens this year,” Executive Director Sanjeev Kumar Bijli said, noting that 40 of these will be located in South Indian cities such as Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Hubli.
The company aims to add 100 new screens in FY26, of which 20 are already operational in Q1. Around 40 screens will be set up in South Indian cities like Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Hubli. The remaining will be distributed among:
Metro cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Gurugram
Smaller towns including Siliguri, Jabalpur, Leh, and Gangtok
“Of the 100 screens planned for FY26, 40% will be in South India and around 20% in smaller towns,” Bijli added.
Looking toward FY27, PVR INOX has visibility on 80 more screens, with the possibility of scaling up to 100 screens depending on finalised deals.
“Around 40% of these screens are also expected to be in South India.”
With the completion of this phase, the company expects to hit a major milestone of nearly 2,000 screens nationwide.
“The average cost of setting up a new screen is approximately Rs 3.5 crore,” Bijli said.
The cost of building 100 screens this fiscal is pegged at ₹350 crore, though nearly half will be developed using the franchise-owned company-operated (FOCO) model and other asset-light strategies.
“The company’s direct investment is expected to be in the range of Rs 175–200 crore.”
Over the entire 200-screen rollout, direct investments are projected to total between ₹350 and ₹400 crore.
This week, PVR INOX is inaugurating a four-screen multiplex in Hyderabad, marking another key milestone in its South India strategy.
“Telangana is a very significant market for us. Telugu films are widely appreciated, and the audience has a strong inclination toward cinema,” Bijli said.
This new addition will take the company’s total number of screens in Telangana to 110, with an additional 26 screens planned for launch in the state during the financial year 2025–26.
“Despite Hyderabad’s rapid urban development, several areas of the city remain underserved by modern multiplexes, creating further opportunities for expansion,” he added.
PVR INOX's ambitious expansion plan underscores its confidence in the resilience of India's cinema market, especially as multiplexes bounce back post-pandemic.Over the next two years, the company plans to invest ₹350–400 crore with a strategic focus on expanding in South India as well as in underserved tier-2 and tier-3 cities across the country.
The rollout of 100 new screens in FY26 alone, combined with an expected 100 more in FY27, will push its nationwide screen count close to 2,000. By leveraging asset-light models like FOCO, PVR INOX aims to manage costs effectively while accelerating growth.
Telangana remains a key focus, with strong audience support for Telugu cinema and untapped demand for modern multiplex experiences. Sanjeev Kumar Bijli’s emphasis on Hyderabad’s development points to the company's deep-rooted regional strategy.
As India’s largest cinema exhibitor, PVR INOX’s latest move signals a robust, long-term commitment to theatrical entertainment in an evolving digital and content-rich landscape.