Aamir Khan Slams OTT Culture: “Cinema Screens Are Too Few in India!” | Bollywood vs OTT Debate 2025
Bollywood legend Aamir Khan recently stunned the film world at the WAVES 2025 Summit with his scathing commentary on the developing OTT culture and the ingrained issues of Indian cinema infrastructure.The “Mr. Perfectionist” did not mince words. In his speech, he laid stress on how India, being a country abounding with film enthusiasts, lags far behind when it comes to cinema screens. He stated:
“India has only around 10,000 screens, compared to 40,000 in the US and 90,000 in China. Even our biggest blockbusters are only seen by about 3 crore people, which is just 2% of the population. Why? Because we lack cinema infrastructure.”
This bold statement set the tone for a larger debate—is OTT killing cinema?
Aamir on OTT: “You’re Killing Your Own Business”
The actor-turned-filmmaker didn’t stop there. He went on to slam the shrinking gap between theatrical releases and OTT drops, saying:
“Earlier, films would release on satellite TV after a year. Then the gap reduced to 10 months, 8 months, and now it’s just 6 months. In fact, now it’s like you’re directly delivering movies to people’s homes.”
“If I tell you to buy a car but say it will reach your home after 4 weeks, would you still buy it today? No! You’ll wait. That’s exactly what’s happening with cinema. People are waiting to watch movies at home.”
Aamir believes this model is hurting both filmmakers and cinema hall owners.
Aamir khan on releasing his own film on ott platform
“I Won’t Do This With My Film”
In a powerful closing note, Aamir Khan made his personal stance crystal clear:
“I don’t want to do this with my films. If you don’t have an OTT subscription, I want you to come watch my film in theatres. And if you already have one, then maybe you can wait. But I want to support cinema halls.”
His statement was widely supported by industry leaders such as Ajay Bijli (PVR Inox), Ritesh Sidhwani, Dinesh Vijan, and many more who had similar apprehensions.
Our Take: The Rise of OTT & the Fall of Theatres
There can be no doubt that OTT platforms have revolutionized the way we consume media. From convenience to affordability, they provide everything an audience requires—movies in your hand, anytime, anywhere. But this explosion of growth has come with a price tag: the magic and tradition of cinema halls are gradually disappearing.In the past, seeing a movie at a theatre was an event—a communal experience packed with energy, emotions, and laughs. Now, many prefer to wait a few weeks to see the same movie at home through streaming. This is not only damaging to cinema owners but also affecting filmmakers who aspire for big-screen storytelling.While OTT is wonderful for indie movies and broader reach, there has to be a balance. Not all movies can do well with a quiet solitary watch on a phone screen. Big-screen magic requires big-screen backing.As Aamir Khan rightly pointed out, if we continue to release films into homes at this speed, we’re killing the theatrical business ourselves. We need to change release strategies and invest in improved cinema infrastructure to save the thrill of viewing films the way they’re intended to be viewed
What do you think about Aamir’s comments? Would you rather wait for OTT or visit the theatre? Let us know in the comments!
