Media365
Aamir Khan spoke at an event at length about his career in Bollywood, some lost opportunities and cinema exhibition trends. He was joined by veteran screenwriter and lyricist Javed Akhtar as they discussed ticket prices and other movie business and consumer-related patterns. When asked about how single screens are closing down due to high prices, Akhtar said that there is less audience for the smaller theatres and pricing is a different factor from whether a movie can actually attract the goers.
Also read: Aamir Recalls Prediction About Lagaan By Veteran That Didn’t Come True
About the movie pricing issue, Aamir shared, “Lekin jab aap Pushpa dekhne jaate ho toh kaise jaate ho. I can name actually name five good films that should have worked in cinema halls but they did not.” While not directly, Aamir seemed to be comparing movies with content and mass appeal. He shifted the conversation to another important aspect, highlighting how the smart phone has changed viewing behaviours and the cinema-goers of today are no longer the “captive audience” they were back in the early 2000s.
“In 2005, there was no smart phone. When I used to go cinema halls, I was a captive audience. The screen was there and the audience. The characters and story used to fully engage the audience. This is what I call a captive audience. Now if you see my movie in a cinema hall or home, you are not a captive audience. The world is in your phone. Chats and many more things are there,” Aamir reflected.
Aamir Khan also said he doesn’t regret opting out of hit films like Darr, Bajranji Bhaijaan and Lage Raho Munna Bhai, which eventually went on to become massive money spinners at the box office.
From March 14-27, Aamir Khan: Cinema Ka Jadugar film festival will give the cinema star’s fans to revisit some of his timeless movies in the cinema halls.
