Karan Johar criticizes high food prices at theaters, saying the average cost for a family of four could be Rs 10,000.
Karan Johar and Zoya Akhtar are two renowned filmmakers who have collaborated with many top actors in the industry. They are well-equipped to provide insights on various aspects of filmmaking, such as production and star costs. Recently, they discussed the issue of high food prices at movie theaters, which is preventing average moviegoers from frequenting cinemas. According to KJo, a family of four ends up spending nearly Rs 10,000 on the day they go out to watch a film.
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter India, Karan Johar highlighted the escalating food prices at theaters, which are discouraging audiences from watching movies on the big screen. He mentioned a survey that revealed 90 out of 100 households would only watch two films a year in theaters. This demographic forms a significant portion of a filmmaker’s target audience.
Karan explained that families often avoid going to cinema halls because they feel guilty denying their children when they ask for snacks or treats during the movie. Instead, they opt for restaurants where they only have to pay for food, without the additional cost of movie tickets.
He further elaborated that parents often struggle to afford expensive cinema snacks like caramel popcorn when their children request them. He attributed this hesitation to the high cost of a family outing, which can amount to Rs 10,000 for a family of four, a significant sum that may not fit into their budget.
The director-producer also observed that many people can only afford to watch films on special occasions like Diwali or for highly anticipated blockbusters like “Stree 2” starring Shraddha Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao.
Adding to this, Zoya Akhtar pointed out that even if people want to go to the movies, they may not be able to afford it. She noted that movie lovers who can only afford to watch two films a year must carefully choose which movies they want to see. “Even if I want to watch ‘Laapataa Ladies,’ maybe I can’t afford it,” she expressed. Meanwhile, Karan is currently co-producing Alia Bhatt and Vedang Raina’s film “Jigra.”
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