When Aakash Cinema (Azadpur) opened its doorways to the cinemagoers of Delhi in 1989, the single-screen theatre with 1,000 seats witnessed a beeline of individuals ready to look at Amitabh Bachchan-starrer Shahenshah. For practically three many years, it entertained generations of film buffs, however its closure in 2016 was concomitant to a broader pattern of single-screen cinemas combating the multiplex growth and altering viewers habits. Today, as it stands renamed to Miraj Cinemas, Bhuvanesh Mendiratta, managing director, Miraj Entertainment, sheds gentle on what it took to transform this single-screen theatre to an Art Deco-inspired three-screen multiplex that balances the previous with the brand new.
The Lobby
| Photo Credit:
Special association
After Miraj Cinemas leased the property that was initially established by Ravinder Singh Anand (by way of his firm Middle East Estate Builders) and overhauled it, the venue is now formally identified as Miraj Cinemas, Azadpur (on the Aakash Cinema Commercial Complex). “The idea behind revamping Aakash Cinema was to give it a new lease of life while upgrading it with modern amenities; a comprehensive commercial complex featuring a three-screen multiplex, food court, retail shops, and parking facilities. Miraj wanted to blend nostalgia with next-gen entertainment, preserving some of the old cinema’s aura,” says Bhuvanesh.
Aesthetically, the redesign theme attracts from Art Deco and basic cinema heritage
| Photo Credit:
Special association
Miraj Cinemas executed the redesigning of the realm over a span of six to eight months. “One big challenge was to balance old and new — preserving the soul of the old theatre while meeting today’s luxury expectations. The team kept the nostalgia mostly in the thematic design elements, rather than, say, preserving old seats or the old screen. Another challenge was space optimisation: fitting lobbies, restrooms, and F&B areas into what was originally just a cinema hall and foyer,” he explains.
Chef’s nook
| Photo Credit:
Special association
Aesthetically, the redesign theme attracts from Art Deco and basic cinema heritage. “There are Art Deco-inspired patterns and wall textures — a nod to the cinema’s vintage past. Expect polished marble flooring, glow-lit ceilings too. The space is garnished with geometric motifs and some retro-style decor pieces (mirrors, lights) to evoke the golden age of cinema, but in a fresh way,” he shares.
The revamp additionally concerned dividing the area to create three separate auditoriums with a complete of 446 seats (Audi 1: 239, Audi 2: 104, Audi 3: 103). Bhuvanesh provides: “The architects/engineers had to add new soundproof walls between auditoriums, ensure each screen had projection sightlines, and install updated seating on re-graded floor slopes. One challenge here is to maintain excellent acoustics and sightlines in the new, smaller auditoriums when working within the shell of an old single-screen; Miraj achieved this by equipping all screens with 2K digital projection, immersive 3D, and Dolby surround sound.”
Popcorn vend on the cinema
| Photo Credit:
Special association
Previously, in 2024, Miraj Cinemas had revamped Chand Cinema in Mayur Vihar Phase 1, New Delhi, a once-popular standalone theatre, as a six-screen luxurious multiplex below the brand new model Chand Miraj Cinemas. But Miraj Cinemas is just one of many many gamers that need to revive single-screen theatres, by remodeling them into premium, tech-driven venues in Delhi. Some of the examples are PVR Priya (Vasant Vihar, Delhi), an iconic 1978-dated single-screen cinema relaunched in 2021; Vishal Cinema (Rajouri Garden, Delhi), a 1,400-seater remodeled into PVR INOX Vishal, a six-screen multiplex with IMAX and 4DX in 2023; and Chanakya Cinema (Chanakyapuri, Delhi), although not a current revamp, it’s price noting that this legendary venue was demolished and rebuilt into a luxurious mall with PVR Chanakya inside.
At current Miraj Cinemas is screening Jolly LLB 3, Nishaanchi, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle and Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi. Tickets for these could be booked by way of Miraj’s web site or apps and thru third-party ticketing platforms, as the multiplex is now absolutely operational.
