Box Populi
South screen, bigger scene as Roongta rolls out its Hyderabad multiplex
MUMBAI: Hyderabad’s love affair with the big screen is getting a plush new chapter and it begins in Nampally. Roongta Cinemas, one of India’s fastest-growing multiplex chains, is stepping into South India with the launch of a luxury cinema at Novum, near Nampally Metro Station, opening to audiences on 19 December.
The debut marks a significant milestone in Roongta Cinemas’ Pan-India expansion, planting its first southern flag in a locality that has cinema stitched into its cultural fabric. Nampally, with its old-world theatres, buzzing streets and generations of devoted moviegoers, offers both strategic connectivity and emotional credibility, a rare double bill for any cinema brand.
Designed to push comfort and immersion up a notch, the new property features an ultra-premium lobby and state-of-the-art auditoriums where contemporary design meets carefully calibrated technology. From lighting and textures to seating ergonomics, every element has been curated to keep audiences absorbed from opening credits to final frame.
Sound takes centre stage inside the halls. All auditoriums are equipped with Dolby Atmos, delivering layered, crystal-clear audio, paired with high-definition digital projection and acoustically optimised interiors. The result is a viewing experience aligned with global cinema standards, tailored for one of India’s most discerning film audiences.
Adding flavour to the experience is Roongta Cinemas’ signature live-cooking food and beverage concept. Freshly prepared dishes share the spotlight with classic cinema staples, reinforcing the brand’s positioning of cinema as a full-fledged leisure destination rather than a quick watch-and-go affair.
Roongta Cinemas CEO Sanjay Barjatya said Hyderabad’s relationship with cinema made it the natural launchpad for the brand’s southern journey. Films here, he noted, are not occasional outings but a deeply ingrained habit, passed down across generations. Choosing Nampally allows the brand to become part of a precinct that has witnessed and celebrated cinema’s evolution for decades.
The Hyderabad opening is also a signal of what lies ahead. With an established presence across North and West India, Roongta Cinemas is now setting its sights on Southern markets, with Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu identified as key growth regions.
As the doors open on 19 December, Hyderabad audiences can expect a cinema that nods to the city’s enduring film culture while introducing a sharper blend of luxury, technology and hospitality proof that in this city, the show never really stops.
MUMBAI:If there is a soundtrack to cinema-going, it is the crackle of popcorn and in 2025, audiences at Cinépolis India clearly couldn’t get enough of it. The multiplex chain has revealed its annual popcorn consumption data, showing that moviegoers across its network devoured close to five million tubs of popcorn last year. Broken down, that works out to around 570 tubs every hour, or roughly 10 tubs disappearing every single minute, enough to keep the kernels popping almost non-stop.
In sheer volume terms, Cinépolis sold around 12,000 tonnes of popcorn during the year, underlining just how central the snack has become to the big-screen ritual. Long after the opening credits roll and before the end credits fade, popcorn remains the constant companion.
To celebrate National Popcorn Day on January 19, 2026, the cinema chain is now turning the spotlight on the snack itself. From January 20 to January 31, Cinépolis will run a nationwide “Popcorn Happy Hour”, offering a buy one get one free deal on popcorn across its locations. The limited-period promotion is designed to add a little extra crunch to the moviegoing experience, without adding to the bill.
“Popcorn is the official movie partner, and at Cinépolis, it is the sensory anchor of the cinema experience,” said Cinépolis India managing director Devang Sampat. “With the Popcorn Happy Hour offer, we are making it easier for audiences to add that to their visit, without compromising on quality.”
Sampat added that the consumption data is more than just a fun statistic. Tracking what patrons buy and when they buy it helps the chain refine its food and beverage offerings and shape the overall in-cinema experience. “Our 2025 data helps us understand what patrons are choosing, so we can keep improving the menu and the experience,” he said.
The popcorn push sits within Cinépolis India’s broader Foovies framework, an in-house strategy that treats food and beverages as a core part of cinema-going rather than a side order. The approach focuses on curated menus, value-led campaigns and data-driven decisions, using consumer behaviour to guide what lands at the concession counter.
As theatres continue to compete not just with streaming platforms but with every other leisure option vying for attention, the numbers suggest one thing remains rock-solid: when the lights dim, popcorn still rules the aisle. And with millions of tubs already behind it, Cinépolis is betting that the humble kernel will keep audiences coming back for another bite and another show.
