Carrying outside food at Maharashtra movie halls may increase ticket prices

Maharashtra accounts for roughly a quarter of the revenues of multiplex operators

According to a report by ratings agency CRISIL, the operating profit of the Indian multiplex industry could moderate 200 basis points (bps), or by Rs 1 billion, if half of the movie-goers visiting multiplexes in Maharashtra carry their own food & beverages (F&B) inside. CRISIL estimates that multiplexes will be required to hike ticket prices by Rs 70 in Maharashtra to offset the impact on the F&B division. However, such a sharp increase may not go well with movie-goers.

There has been a debate around allowing outside food inside multiplexes and rationalising the cost of F&B sold at multiplexes. A