At the recent World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025, Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan brought a critical issue to the forefront: the alarmingly low percentage of India’s population that experiences films in theaters. Khan’s insights have sparked a crucial conversation about the challenges facing the Indian film industry and the urgent need for infrastructural development.

Aamir Khan revealed that, according to his analysis, only about 2% of India’s vast population watches major Bollywood hits in cinemas. This stark figure paints a concerning picture, especially for an industry that is deeply ingrained in the nation’s cultural fabric. Khan’s statement raises a fundamental question: where are the remaining 98% of viewers consuming this content?

Khan elaborated on this point, stating, “Our biggest hits over the years have had a theatrical footfall of three crore people, which is roughly 2 per cent of our population. In a country recognised as a film-loving nation, only 2 per cent watches our biggest hits in a theatre. So where is the remaining 98 per cent watching the film?”

A core issue, as highlighted by Khan, is the significant disparity in the number of cinema screens in India compared to other major film-producing nations. He pointed out that India has approximately 10,000 screens. In stark contrast, the United States, with roughly one-third of India’s population, has around 40,000 screens. China, with a comparable population, boasts an even more impressive figure of 90,000 screens.

The actor emphasized the uneven distribution of these screens within India itself. “Even in this 10,000, half of them are in the South and the other half is in the rest of the country. So for a Hindi film, typically we have 5,000 screens,” Khan explained.

This lack of adequate theater infrastructure has a direct impact on the potential reach and revenue of Bollywood films. Aamir Khan stressed that numerous districts and vast areas across India lack even a single cinema, effectively excluding a significant portion of the population from the traditional theatrical experience.

“My belief has always been that we need to have a lot more theatres in India. There are so many vast districts in India that don’t have a single theatre for people to watch films. So I feel that one of the biggest issues that we have faced over decades is that we just don’t have enough screens,” Khan stated.

Aamir Khan’s message at WAVES 2025 was a clear call for substantial investment in expanding India’s cinema infrastructure. He believes that increasing the number of screens across the country is crucial to unlocking the industry’s immense potential. By providing greater access to theaters, especially in underserved regions, Bollywood can connect with a much wider audience and ensure that more Indians can experience the magic of cinema on the big screen.

The lack of access not only affects the film industry’s economics but also deprives a large part of the population of a shared cultural experience.

Key Highlights:

• Aamir Khan stated at WAVES 2025 that only 2% of India’s population watches films in theaters.
• He highlighted the severe shortage of cinema screens in India compared to the US and China.
• Khan emphasized the need for greater investment in theater infrastructure to reach a wider audience.
• The limited number of screens restricts Bollywood’s reach and potential revenue.