Drishyam: The Conclusion Show-Sharing Row Puts Cinemas in a Fix Ahead of New Releases

The strong theatrical run of Drishyam: The Conclusion, starring Ajay Devgn, has reportedly triggered a scheduling challenge for cinema exhibitors as several new films prepare to arrive in theatres. Panorama Studios, which is distributing the thriller, has sought a substantial number of screenings for its third week, creating a difficult balancing act for cinemas preparing their schedules for October 16 onwards.

The issue highlights a familiar tension in film exhibition: a successful movie needs enough screens to sustain its run, while new releases need adequate showtimes to attract audiences during their crucial opening days.

What Is Behind the Drishyam: The Conclusion Show-Sharing Dispute?

According to a trade source quoted by Bollywood Hungama on October 14, Panorama Studios has requested minimum daily show allocations for Drishyam: The Conclusion beginning October 16.

The reported requests vary according to the number of screens available at each cinema:

• Single-screen theatres: At least three shows daily.

• Two-screen theatres: Five shows daily.

• Three-screen cinemas: Six shows, including one morning show.

• Four-screen multiplexes: Seven shows, including one morning show.

• Five-screen multiplexes: Eight shows, including one morning show.

• Six-screen cinemas: Ten shows daily.

• Theatres with seven or more screens: Fifteen shows daily.

These figures are reported demands attributed to a trade source, not a publicly verified list of final schedules. The final allocation will depend on negotiations between distributors and exhibitors.

Why Exhibitors Face a Difficult Decision?

The timing of the request is important. Several films are scheduled to enter cinemas during the same period, including Nayyi Navelli, Prahaar, Street Fighter, Jailer 2 and Ranabaali, according to the trade report.

Each new release needs sufficient screenings to establish its opening-weekend performance. At the same time, removing too many shows from a film that continues to attract audiences can mean losing potential ticket sales.

For exhibitors, the decision involves more than choosing between an old film and a new one. They must consider audience demand, language and regional preferences, available screens, show timings and the commercial expectations attached to each release.

The pressure can be particularly pronounced at single-screen theatres, where the number of daily slots is limited. Multiplexes have greater flexibility, but even larger venues must distribute screenings across multiple titles.

Drishyam: The Conclusion’s Box-Office Position

Bollywood Hungama’s October 14 report stated that the Ajay Devgn-led thriller had crossed the ₹300 crore mark on October 11. The publication also projected that the film could move beyond ₹375 crore, with a possibility of reaching ₹400 crore.

The latter figures were projections rather than confirmed final collections. They should not be treated as guaranteed outcomes.

The film’s reported weekday stability is central to the show-allocation debate. If a movie continues to draw paying audiences beyond its opening weeks, distributors have a commercial reason to seek additional screenings. However, exhibitors must also judge whether the same slots could generate stronger returns for incoming films.

When Could the Show Allocation Issue Be Resolved?

The report indicated that advance bookings had yet to open at several cinemas while distributors and exhibitors worked towards an arrangement. A trade source suggested that discussions could conclude on Wednesday, October 14, or extend until Thursday, October 15.

That timeline was an estimate rather than a confirmed deadline. The final outcome may differ across cinema chains and individual locations.

Moviegoers should therefore check the latest listings for their preferred theatre instead of assuming that a particular film will receive the same number of screenings everywhere.

The Celebrity Hour Take

The dispute illustrates how a film’s commercial life can extend beyond its opening weekend. A successful title may continue to generate demand in its third week, but that success can complicate the launch of competing films.

For the industry, the central question is how to balance a proven performer with the uncertainty of new releases. Giving Drishyam: The Conclusion more shows could help sustain its run, while reserving space for upcoming titles gives them a fair opportunity to find their audiences.

The final outcome will depend on actual ticket demand and negotiations, rather than the requested show counts alone. Until revised schedules are available, the reported dispute should be understood as a developing trade issue—not evidence that any particular film has been denied screenings nationwide.

Sources & Verification

This report is based on trade reporting published by Bollywood Hungama on October 14, 2026. The show-allocation figures and negotiations are attributed to sources quoted by that publication; final theatre schedules and the reported box-office projections should be independently checked before being presented as settled facts.