“Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani will be a longer-lasting film than Barbie or Oppenheimer in Kashmir,” says theatre owner in valley

Hollywood movies Oppenheimer and Barbie have been well-received by audiences in Kashmir stated Vikas Dhar, owner of INOX Cinema, the city's first multiplex. Dhar is confident that the momentum will continue with the upcoming release of Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, as the film's director Karan Johar has a huge fan following in the region.

"For the first time, we have three Hollywood films playing at the same time. We are looking forward to 'Rocky Aur Rani…' coming this week. Karan Johar has a huge fan following in Kashmir. I think that (film) should also do well. I feel the movie will be a longer-lasting film than Barbie or Oppenheimer," Dhar told PTI in an interview.

In a video message, Johar had expressed "immense gratitude" to Dhar's educationist father Vijay Dhar and the people of Kashmir for their love and support during the making of Rocky Aur Rani… He shot ‘Tum Kya Mile,’ the song from the film.

Reacting to the same, Dhar said it was a "lovely surprise" when the filmmaker thanked his father in the video. "Karan Johar thanked Vijay Dhar, which was quite a surprise… Kashmiris are house proud. We love the beauty of Kashmir. We are not somebody who grows up saying 'We have seen this every day'… For us, to see that a big production (house) is coming here to shoot the movie makes us extremely proud and happy. The reaction of people here is fantastic," he further said.

The love for cinema in Kashmir is not just limited to Bollywood, he said, recalling how the tickets for 'Oppenheimer' were sold out within two-three hours of opening and the first-day-first-show of the movie was housefull. Barbie, starring Margot Robbie, had a relatively slow start but picked up later.

Dhar praised the youth of Kashmir for being “in tune with the rest of the world.” "They are not, as you say, a frog in the well like we were when we were growing up. They are more global citizens, and they are the people who are interested in the history of the world… They understand who Cillian Murphy is, who Christopher Nolan is," he added.

The theatre owner, who fulfilled his father's dream by setting up a cinema hall in Srinagar 32 years after terror groups had banned or burnt the majority of these theatres in the city, dreams that the Valley has more theatres in the coming time.

Citing the example of Pathaan, Dhar said people came in "droves" to watch the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer earlier this year so much that a viewer asked him if he could bring a chair from his house since they had run out of tickets. "People had no idea there was a multiplex here before Pathaan and they came in droves. The word of mouth helped, which I hope will happen for Rocky Aur Rani… and Jawan, which is also coming.”

“Word of mouth spreads so fast that people start walking in, demanding tickets. We said we can’t do it, the shows are all fun. One said, ‘I’ll bring a chair from my house. Can I sit in? Can I watch it? You can charge me extra money.’ So, that is coming in, but we know it will take time,” he added.

INOX Cinema is Kashmir's first multiplex, opened in the Sonawar area on September 20, and screened Laal Singh Chaddha starring Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan on its opening day.

Also Read: Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani: Writer Ishita Moitra overwhelmed with positive response: “Thank you Karan Johar for giving me some of the most incredible writing days of my life”