PVR’s story begins in the heart of Delhi in 1978, when a young Ajay Bijli took over the family-owned Priya Cinema in Vasant Vihar. At the time, the single-screen hall was like countless others in the country — a community space where people gathered to watch films, often in seats that creaked and under fans that worked harder than the projection system. Bijli, however, saw more than just a cinema; he saw an opportunity to transform how India experienced movies.
In 1995, a chance partnership with the Australian entertainment giant Village Roadshow set that transformation in motion. The joint venture, Priya Village Roadshow — better known as PVR — was born from a simple yet ambitious idea: to bring the multiplex culture, already thriving abroad, to Indian soil. Two years later, in 1997, PVR Saket opened in Delhi. With multiple screens under one roof, air-conditioned comfort, better sound, plush seating, and the novelty of choosing between a Hollywood blockbuster and a Bollywood romance in the same building, it instantly redefined what going to the movies could mean.
The early years were not without challenges. In the 90s, many cinema-goers balked at paying higher ticket prices when single screens were cheaper. But PVR was betting on a changing India — a growing middle class that valued comfort, choice, and a bit of glamour in their leisure time. Slowly, audiences began to embrace the new experience, and PVR expanded beyond Delhi, bringing its brand of movie-going to cities like Bangalore, Mumbai, and Hyderabad.
By the early 2000s, PVR had become a symbol of modern entertainment. It introduced innovations such as online ticket booking, gourmet concessions, and premium formats long before they became industry standards. The brand kept growing, acquiring competitors like Cinemax and launching luxury offerings like PVR Gold Class, Director’s Cut, and IMAX screens. Each new format wasn’t just about bigger screens or better sound — it was about turning an ordinary film screening into an event.
Over the decades, PVR also shaped cultural habits. Its multiplexes became venues for first dates, birthday celebrations, and family weekend outings. The clean, well-maintained auditoriums attracted women and families back to theaters, restoring the glamour that many single screens had lost. For urban India, “going to the movies†became synonymous with “going to PVR.â€
The COVID-19 pandemic, however, brought the chain to an abrupt halt. Months of empty theaters and uncertainty tested the company’s resilience. Yet, PVR emerged from the crisis determined to keep cinemas alive, investing in safety protocols, luxury upgrades, and exclusive content. In 2023, it made its most dramatic move yet, merging with INOX Leisure to form India’s largest multiplex chain — a giant with more than 1,600 screens across the country.
From a single hall in Vasant Vihar to a nationwide empire, PVR’s journey is a story of vision and reinvention. It is the story of how one company not only kept pace with India’s changing movie culture but helped define it — turning cinema-going into an experience people look forward to, not just a place they go.
