Pathaan, starring Shah Rukh Khah, to revive 25 single screen theatres, previously shut across India

Shah Rukh Khan is all set to return to the big screen after four years with Siddharth Anand’s Pathaan. The film is going to bring back the magic of the superstar in almost 25 single-screen theatres across India, which were previously shut. It will be their first opening film as Pathaan releases on January 25. Also read: Pathaan advance booking: Shah Rukh Khan’s film sells 2.5 lakh tickets, set for ₹300 crore worldwide opening weekend

Directed by Siddharth Anand, Pathaan reunites Shah Rukh with his Chennai Express co-star Deepika Padukone. It also has John Abraham in the lead role. The story revolves around a soldier who ends his hiatus to take down a terrorist group against India.

After a strong number of advance bookings, film trade analyst Taran Adarsh tweeted, “‘PATHAAN’ REVIVES SINGLE SCREENS… #Pathaan is all set to revive the theatrical biz, going by the terrific advance bookings… Most importantly, as many as 25 single screens across #India – which were shut – will re-open with #Pathaan this week, given the unprecedented buzz.”

Earlier, another trade analyst Atul Mohan reported that a total of 90,000 tickets were sold on the first day of the advance booking. According to him, PVR has sold 35,000 tickets, INOX sold 30,000 and Cinepolis sold 25,000 till 9pm on January 19. He told Hindustan Times, “The trend is that the advance bookings are at highest on the first day, and then it peaks on the day before release. We can safely say that the shows are good. Four out of five screens are being given to Pathaan at most properties like Cinepolis, PVR and INOX etc.”

Most of the 25 single screen theatres are located in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. These include Jaipur’s Gem Cinema and Allahabad’s Rajkaran Cinema. Mumbai’s Carnival R Mall in Mulund will also be screening Pathaan. Other theatres being revived are Jyoti Cinema in Indore, Madhya Pradesh and Cinekamla Ponda in Goa.

As per earlier reports, Pathaan has sold tickets worth ₹15 crore. Experts are expecting the film to make an opening collection of ₹35-40 crore when it releases on its first day. It’s also expected to gross ₹150-200 crore in India over the first weekend and ₹300 crore worldwide.

Shah Rukh was last seen in Ayan Mukerji’s Brahmastra in a special cameo appearance. However, his last full-length film remains Zero. Released in 2018, it featured him with Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif. Directed by Aanand L Rai, Zero tanked badly at the box office. Meanwhile, the teaser of Salman Khan’s upcoming Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan will be screened at the Pathaan release.