Tollywood
Ram Charan Calls for Affordable Popcorn Prices Amid Peddi's Mixed Box Office Result
BY SUNIT JANGIR
Hyderabad, June 23 - Superstar Ram Charan's latest big-screen outing Peddi may have emerged as the highest-grossing South Indian film of 2026, but the film's theatrical journey has also sparked a larger conversation around cinema affordability in India. Amid reports of mixed audience reactions and fluctuating collections after a record-breaking opening, discussions around expensive theatre snacks have gained momentum online. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Directed by Buchi Babu Sana, Peddi opened to massive fanfare and crossed the 100 crore mark worldwide on its first day itself. The movie showed decent momentum during the opening weekend, but collections started dropping once the weekend was over, and despite the massive opening day, the film has grossed around 330 crores worldwide in 19 days so far, which is a kind of mixed result. As conversations around the film's performance intensified, social media users and cinema enthusiasts also began discussing the rising cost of watching movies in theatres. High popcorn and beverage prices have become a recurring complaint among Indian moviegoers, with many arguing that inflated food costs discourage repeat viewing, particularly for family audiences. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) Industry observers believe that reducing concession prices could help theatres improve audience retention, especially when films depend heavily on long theatrical runs rather than opening weekend collections alone. The debate gained further traction as Peddi attempted to sustain momentum by adding nearly six minutes of fresh footage during its third week in cinemas. The discussion surrounding popcorn pricing or even ticket prices reflects a broader issue facing the exhibition industry today: while big-budget spectacles continue to draw opening crowds, maintaining audience interest over several weeks increasingly depends on making the overall theatre experience more affordable and accessible. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}) #RepublicSummit2026 | “When there is a great cinema, people have come back to theatres. In India, the cheapest form of entertainment is still cinema”: Ram Charan, Actor and Film Producer (@AlwaysRamCharan)From promise to proof. From aspiration to execution. #RepublicSummit2026… pic.twitter.com/QJ9Z9nXdjf— Republic (@republic) June 22, 2026