Aamir Khan expressed his concerns about Indian cinema, stating that the country needs more movie theaters. Currently, only 2% of India’s population visits cinemas. In contrast, countries like the US and China have a much higher number of screens.
India Lags Behind in Screen Count
Aamir Khan highlighted that India has around 10,000 screens, while the US, with one-third of India’s population, boasts 40,000 screens. China takes the lead with an impressive 90,000 screens. This disparity is a significant concern for the Indian film industry.
The actor emphasized that the lack of screens in many parts of India, including regions like Konkan, is a major issue. People in these areas are unable to watch movies on the big screen, despite being aware of them through online discussions. Aamir Khan believes that increasing the number of screens is essential to address this problem.
Shorter Window Between Theatrical Release and Streaming
Aamir Khan also pointed out that the current trend of releasing movies on streaming platforms shortly after their theatrical release is detrimental to the film business. He recalled that, in the past, movies would be released in theaters and then make their way to satellite TV after a year. The window has now shortened significantly, giving audiences the option to watch movies either in theaters or on streaming platforms soon after their release.
The Waves Summit saw Aamir Khan, along with other industry professionals, discuss the future of Indian cinema. The summit provided a platform for the creative community to engage with the government, with Aamir Khan expressing hope that the discussions would translate into policies that benefit the industry.
Collaboration with Chinese Creative Communities
Aamir Khan also expressed his desire to collaborate with Chinese filmmakers and writers. He noted that his films, such as ‘3 Idiots’ and ‘Dangal,’ have been highly successful in China. The actor believes that the cultural tastes and emotions of Chinese audiences are similar to those of Indian audiences, making collaboration a potentially rewarding endeavor.
Aamir Khan emphasized that establishing distribution networks in various countries is crucial for Indian filmmakers to expand their reach. He, along with other industry professionals, including Dinesh Vijan and Ritesh Sidhwani, stressed the need for Indian filmmakers to look beyond India’s borders when marketing their films.