Superstar Aamir Khan has reignited an important debate around Indian cinema and its growth. In a recent interview, the actor-producer compared India’s film ecosystem with China’s and explained why even the biggest Indian blockbusters struggle to reach their full box office potential.
Aamir said Indian films enjoy massive popularity and loyal audiences. However, he believes the country still lacks the basic cinema infrastructure needed to support truly record-breaking numbers. According to him, many districts in India still do not have a single cinema hall, which limits how many people can watch films on the big screen.
Aamir Khan Says India Needs More Cinema Halls
Speaking to Variety India, Aamir highlighted the sharp difference between India and China when it comes to cinema reach. He pointed out that China has far more screens, which allows its big films to earn extraordinary figures at the box office.
“What is the comparison? We are one-tenth their size in outlets. Which is why one big film when in China does huge business; it does two billion US dollars. Just in China, not in the rest of the world. Just in China, big films do that kind of business. The big films over there do business worth billions of dollars. I am talking of US dollars. So, when we increase our number of screens, you’ll see the business expand at the grassroots level. The base of your pyramid will go wide,” Aamir said.
Currently, India has around 9,000 cinema screens, while China has close to one lakh. Aamir explained that this gap directly affects how widely films can release and how much money they can make within the country.
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To underline his point, he referred to Ne Zha 2, which became the highest-grossing Chinese film last year by earning nearly $2 billion in China alone. In comparison, India’s biggest hit of 2025, Dhurandhar, earned about $115 million domestically and under $150 million worldwide.
‘Dhurandhar Could Have Done Massive Numbers’
Aamir used Dhurandhar to show how much bigger Indian films could become with better reach. He said the film’s success proves that the audience appetite already exists.
He added, “Let’s take the example of Dhurandhar, which has done around Rs 1,000 crore. Now, imagine if it had been released not in 5000 screens but in 15000 screens. Massive! So, this is what I’m trying to say. The real change will come when the number of screens goes up. Because there are so many districts in India right now that don’t have a single screen.”
Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar starred Ranveer Singh as Hamza Ali Ansari, a spy who infiltrates the Karachi underworld. The film turned into a historic blockbuster, grossing over Rs 1347 crore worldwide within weeks of its December release. It also sold nearly 4 crore tickets in India, making it one of the biggest Indian films ever.
Despite its long runtime, ‘A’ certification, and political controversies, the film held strong at the box office. Its success has already led to a sequel, Dhurandhar The Revenge, which is set to release in March 2026.
Meanwhile, Aamir was last seen in Sitaare Zameen Par, which earned Rs 265 crore worldwide and marked his return to the big screen. He also appeared in cameo roles in Happy Patel and Rajinikanth’s Coolie.
