Dabangg pulls Pakistani viewers to theatres

The footfall in Pakistani cinema halls went down when Indian movies were banned during the Eid period, but the Salman Khan-starrer Dabangg has created a buzz and moviegoers are once again thronging the theatres.

The footfall in Pakistani cinema halls went down when Indian movies were banned during the Eid period, but the Salman Khan-starrer

HT Image

Dabangg

has created a buzz and moviegoers are once again thronging the theatres.

Rizwan, a booking clerk, Cinestar cinema in Lahore says, “Families have started returning to the cinemas for Indian movies. The cinema hall is more than 70 per cent full during all

Dabangg

shows,” he says.

According to theatre owners, the film industry in Pakistan produces only a handful of low-budget movies every year and fails to garner a satisfactory response at the box office.

Arif Khan, owner, Gulistan cinema, says, “Hardly eight to10 movies have been produced in Pakistan during the first nine months of 2010 while 25 to 30 Indian movies have released during the intervening period.

Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai, I Hate Luv Storys

and

Housefull

have also fared well at the box office.”