‘Homebound’: Richa Chadha responds to screen shortage, says ‘Masaan had even less’ amid ‘monopoly of a few players’ | Hindi Movie News

‘Homebound’, India’s official entry for the 2025 Oscars, was released in theaters on September 26. Reportedly, the film was shown on only 200 to 225 screens, which is quite limited. Even though the movie received good reviews and people spoke highly of it, many had trouble finding showtimes compared to other new commercial films. This led to frustration on social media, with people questioning how well the film was promoted. The movie is produced by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions.Praise from fans and criticism of screen count for ‘Homebound’A moment unfolded when ‘Homebound’ director Neeraj Ghaywan shared a fan’s Instagram story that said: “Oh man. I’m still shaken. The scene between Shoaib & Chandan’s mother just broke me!! Take a bow @neeraj.ghaywan @somenmishra @ishaankhatter @vishaljethwa06. Also, this is the first time I’ve seen people clap at the end of the movie. And yet, this important piece of work gets only 3 showings a day while the no-brainer SSKTK has almost 100! Tells you everything, doesn’t it?”.Richa Chadha’s view on screen monopolyRicha recently spoke out about the limited number of screens for ‘Homebound’, comparing it to her previous film with Neeraj, ‘Masaan’, which had even fewer shows. On her X account, she replied to criticism of Homebound’s release by saying, “Hmmm… the film got so many shows, precisely because the producer had clout. I think we had fewer shows for Masaan. Each screen, each KDM costs money. Each show costs money. Exhibitors weigh that against literally the number of people in the hall that buy samosas.”Impact of high ticket pricesThe actress also pointed out how soaring ticket prices are affecting cinema attendance: “And fewer people go because the ticket prices are so high… single screens with affordable pricing have vanished over time. The producer sits with losses for the film LONG after the awards are won, actors gain markets and credibility, and everyone moves on.”Challenges for independent filmsChadha highlighted the deep-rooted problems faced by independent films, pointing to “exorbitant ticket prices, the P&A bottleneck, fewer screens, and the monopoly of a few players on the screens” as key obstacles that limit the reach of movies like ‘Homebound’.Public reactions to Richa Chadha’s social media postChadha’s post triggered a wave of reactions from people online. One user commented, “The big guns of Bollywood propped up these multi-screens with exorbitant prices. In the south, people still go to theatres because ticket prices are capped. I saw Homebound in a PVR at just Rs 199 here.” Another added, “All of it… it is a system designed to enrich only a few who are part of inner circles.”About ‘Homebound’‘Homebound’ features Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor. It follows two childhood friends from North India striving to become police officers to gain respect. The film explores themes of caste and social struggles amid their challenging journey.