Hollywood isn't just knocking on India's door anymore - it's kicked the thing off its hinges. That's the takeaway from an exclusive chat with Kamal Gianchandani, the big boss at PVR INOX, who says American films are posting numbers in India that nobody in the industry saw coming. And according to him, the real explosion hasn't even happened yet.

"Heading into the final stretch of the year, this is going to be, by a mile, the biggest year for Hollywood in India," Gianchandani told us, and he's not mincing words about why. His theory is refreshingly simple: audiences are done with their couches. "People are tired of consuming films at home," he said plainly.

The theatrical comeback nobody predicted

Think about the last few years. Streaming giants spent billions trying to turn living rooms into multiplexes, and for a while, it worked. But Gianchandani argues the pendulum has swung hard in the other direction. There's something about a packed theater - the collective gasps, the shared laughter, the overpriced popcorn - that a Netflix queue simply can't replicate. And Indian moviegoers, it turns out, are leading that charge back to the big screen.

Hollywood studios have clearly noticed. India has quietly morphed from a nice-to-have market into a genuine priority, with day-and-date releases and promotional tours that would've been unthinkable a decade ago. The numbers speak for themselves - this year is on track to shatter every previous benchmark for English-language films in the territory.

Gianchandani's bold prediction for Avengers: Endgame: Encore

Here's where things get spicy. Marvel is bringing Avengers: Endgame: Encore back to theaters, and Gianchandani isn't hedging his bets one bit. He predicts the re-release will "SMASH all re-release records" in India. All of them. Not some - all.

It's a gutsy call, but consider the landscape. Re-releases have become a legit phenomenon in India over the past couple of years, with classic titles pulling crowds that would make some new releases jealous. Marvel fans, meanwhile, are a breed apart - the kind of audience that'll show up for a tenth anniversary screening wearing full cosplay and crying at the portal scene again. If any film can torch the record books, it's this one.

Gianchandani's confidence also signals something bigger: exhibitors see re-releases not as filler content, but as genuine event programming. A marquee title with built-in nostalgia and a rabid fanbase can fill seats on a slow weekend faster than anything else in the cupboard.

Godzilla Minus Z is stomping into India

As if that weren't enough, Gianchandani also confirmed that Godzilla Minus Z will officially release in India. The kaiju juggernaut has been tearing up box offices worldwide, and Indian fans have been loudly demanding their turn. Now they're getting it.

Godzilla's appeal in India is easy to understand - giant monster, massive destruction, and a story with real emotional weight underneath the spectacle. It's the kind of film that demands the biggest screen and the loudest sound system in the building, which is exactly the experience PVR INOX is built to sell. Expect IMAX screens to be booked solid for weeks.

What this means for the bigger picture

Zoom out and the story here isn't really about any single film. It's about a market that's finally being treated like the heavyweight it is. Gianchandani's message - that audiences are hungry for the theatrical experience again - lands at a moment when the entire exhibition industry is desperate for good news, and India is delivering it.

For movie fans, that means more big releases, more day-one access, and more reasons to leave the house. For studios, it means India is no longer an afterthought on the release calendar. And for anyone still arguing that streaming killed the movie theater? Gianchandani has a two-word answer for you, and it involves Godzilla stomping across a giant screen near you.

Source: Bollywood Hungama