Mumbai's popular Chandan Cinema shuts operations

Chandan Cinema in Juhu, one of Mumbai's iconic single-screen theatres, has shut operations effective today (29 March).

“We ran all shows yesterday. The final film to be screened was Akshay Kumar’s Kesari. We have stopped operations from this morning,” Bhavesh Raja, manager, Chandan Cinema told Cinestaan.com. Kesari was released on 21 March.

Raja said the cinema is going to be revamped. “The dismantling process will take place over two-three years. That’s just the first process of revamping. I cannot put a timeframe on when the revamp will be completed, but we will return and the cinema business will be owned 100% by Mr Sameer Joshi," said Raja.

As per a tabloid report in January this year, the owner had agreed to sell the property to a builder. Apart from a shopping mall, the rest of the space will be used by Joshi to build two mini multiplexes.

Located in the posh area of Juhu, Chandan Cinema was built in 1974.

The rise of multiplexes, lower ticket sales and high overheads have seen a number of single-screens in the city shut down, the most recent being Eros at Churchgate and Naaz at Grant Road.