‘It’s a very costly affair’: Pankaj Tripathi speaks out on soaring ticket prices

Pankaj Tripathi is currently basking in the success of his film Metro... In Dino. And while the box office has crossed the production value of the film, Tripathi does acknowledge a known problem in theatres—high ticket prices.

“Ticket pricing ek mudda hai aur uski bhi ek bhumika hai [Ticket pricing is an issue and that plays a role too]. If a family has to go to the theatre today, it’s a very costly affair. Ticket prices and the food served there are so expensive,” Tripathi said in an interview with Hindustan Times.

“I don’t know much about the commercial aspect of cinema, so the business game is beyond my understanding. And as an actor, my focus is just on the film. But I do feel that movie tickets are too costly and that’s surely a deterrent,” the actor continued.

The conversation surrounding high ticket prices has become louder now, with many from the film industry themselves taking a stand against it. In May, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and actor Pawan Kalyan directed officials to ensure uniform ticket prices across the state. He remarked that the government has noted the monopolistic control in multiplexes and single-screen theatres, making the experience difficult to enjoy for moviegoers.

Badhaai Ho actor Gajraj Rao also shared his opinion. In a conversation with ANI, Rao noted that a trip to the cinema now breaks the bank, with the heavy price tag on tickets, accompanied by food that goes beyond snacks, converting cinema halls into “restaurants”. “Cinema should feel like cinema. There should be no disturbances. Going to the movies means a good film, a good story, and tasty popcorn," the actor said.

ALSO READ | Karnataka set to cap movie ticket fares: Details here

More recently, the Karnataka government cracked down on the issue and is set to cap the movie ticket fare across all theatres, including multiplexes and languages, at Rs 200. The decision follows a discussion that took place back in 2017, when Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah brought up the Rs 200 ticket price cap, but it stayed in the High Court, with the order eventually withdrawn.

 

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