Over the years, Salman Khan has established himself as the King of the box office. It is usually expected that Bhai's film will rake in around Rs 300 crore, nothing less.
And now, Salman wants to ensure more footfalls for his films in theatres. In an interview to Mumbai Mirror, Salman revealed that he wanted to establish his own theatre chain. Though the plan was set in motion two years ago, it has been delayed as Salman is carefully working out the logistics.
The project is called "Salman Talkies", where tickets would be tax-free and available at subsidized rates and free for children from underprivileged backgrounds.
"I had a lot of plans for the theatre chain but it's taking me longer because I need to be very careful. There are a lot of logistical details involved so that the project doesn't shut down. But let me clarify, the theatres will not be in Bandra or Juhu, but on the outskirts of Mumbai," Salman said.
Salman says that he would love to inaugurate each theatre himself. "There are so many things I want to do in the exhibitor and distributor space, and by turning distributor with (the upcoming Eid release) Race 3, I have taken my first step in that direction. This chain adds another aspect to my portfolio," he says.
For his upcoming theatre chain, Salman has spoken to several producers and distributors to consolidate the plan and gain a better understanding of the market. The chain is expected to flag off in Maharashtra, and Salman hopes it expands to other states soon.
Earlier, Salman has voiced his concern about film tickets in tier-one cities costing over Rs 400-500. He believes that increasing footfalls in small regions by building more theatres is the only way to boost box-office collections.
"Ticket rates should be brought down to Rs 200-250 for weekends and Rs 120-150 for weekdays, the way it is for regional films. With Hindi films, the numbers are higher but we need the footfalls too," Salman said.
On the work front, Salman's Race 3 is expected to release on June 15.