‘Movie tickets could be less expensive if there are more cinemas’

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Humayun Saeed speaks alongside veteran actor Mustafa Qureshi and KPC President Fazil Jamili.—Fahim Siddiqi / White Star
Humayun Saeed speaks alongside veteran actor Mustafa Qureshi and KPC President Fazil Jamili.—Fahim Siddiqi / White Star

KARACHI: To talk about the impressive weekend collections of the film Love Guru, the star of the movie Humayun Saeed thanked the people for making his film a big success.

Talking to the media at the Karachi Press Club (KPC) on Thursday evening, Mr Saeed said if there are more cinemas, tickets could be sold at subsidised rates.

He said it’s being considered to bring the ticket price of Love Guru down. He said he emphasises on the business aspect of a film because it means a great number of people went to see it. If there are cinemas everywhere, the number will increase manifold.

“That day is not far away. The government is making efforts in that regard. They have exempted a few taxes. The Sindh government should play its role as well,” he added.

Actor and producer Humayun Saeed says they are considering lowering Love Guru’s ticket price

Mr Saeed thanked the media, adding the prayers of the people have contributed to his success. “I didn’t step out of my house for the last four days. I got out today and I want to thank the people because of the way they showed interest in Love Guru, getting entertained by it. Believe me, I am myself unable to get the tickets. I’m really happy to see that. After a long time, that is, after two to three years, so many people have turned up at cinema halls.”

He said: “It has put a responsibility on my shoulders to take cinema forward. Filmmaking is a difficult job. Every time my film is about to get released, I see a nightmare in which I find myself alone in a cinema hall. Thankfully it doesn’t come true.

“I joined this profession because of films. I had a passion for movies. I didn’t get that opportunity in the beginning of my career. I did do a few films but at the time cinema was in decline. I was disappointed. But then our TV drama has been doing well. It’s being watched all over the world. So I did TV plays. When the first cineplex was constructed in the country, I saw that a different gentry had returned to watch films. Seeing that I gathered the courage to make Main Hoon Shahid Afridi and after that Jawani Phir Nahin Aani and Punjabi Nahin Jaongi etc. People watched them.

“Today, I do see cinema facing difficulties. But I’m very hopeful. If one good film can bring in so many people, just imagine it’s only one or two per cent of them. Right now, we don’t have cinemas. A big number of cinema lovers have to go to Defence to watch movies,” he said.

Senior actor Mustafa Qureshi, who was sitting next to Mr Saeed, lauded Mr Saeed and through a process of numerology told him that he’s a lucky person. He also expressed his views on how to improve the film industry and its business.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2025

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