Recently, PVR Inox got into a soup after a consumer court in Bengaluru fined the multiplex chain for playing ads for as long as 25 minutes. And now, it has once again come under the scanner. A Lucknow resident put up a video on Instagram detailing how the property at Hazratganj was charging significantly higher prices at the counter than those listed on online booking platforms.
REVEALED: Lucknow incident exposes how PVR Inox staff might charge higher than the actual ticket price and forcefully offer combo deals to unsuspecting consumers
The woman explained that on popular ticket app BookMyShow, the price shown for four tickets for Chhaava was Rs. 640. Since BookMyShow added a convenience fee, the total amount came up to be Rs. 758. The woman had reached the cinema hall by then and decided to book four tickets from the counter to save the booking fee. To her horror, she was asked to pay Rs. 259.50 per ticket, which is, nearly Rs. 100 more than the actual price of the ticket. When she asked about it, the staffer claimed that the excess amount included GST and other charges.
The complainant argued that all these charges were added to the ticket price. She claimed that the staffer removed the combo offer and then asked them to pay Rs. 938, which was still higher than Rs. 640, which should have ideally been the total figure. The complainant yet again confronted the staffer, which led to the latter throwing her pen and informing the manager. Once the staffer was back, she agreed to charge Rs. 160 per ticket.
The complainant posted this video on Instagram and has been widely shared. Many commented that they, too, have been similarly fleeced by PVR Inox.
Bollywood Hungama spoke to insiders and they confirmed that this has been happening for a long time, especially in the properties located in the Northern belt. A multiplex source said, “The reason the total was more than the ticket price in the Lucknow incident is because the staffer tried to sell the combo snack offer to the customer. This was done as there’s a tremendous demand on staff to sell the combo offer. Hence, they try to offer it to unsuspecting consumers.”
The source continued, “Often, those who have come to buy the ticket at the counter would not have checked the price online. Also, it’s often assumed that the ticket price would be high and hence, many of them end up paying whatever amount has been asked by the ticket counter person. The same was tried with the Lucknow person but it backfired.”
Bollywood Hungama stumbled upon many complaints from customers on X (formerly Twitter) who had called out this practice even before the pandemic. Some realized it after paying the excess amount while a few have shockingly alleged that they were refused tickets until they agreed to buy the combo.
@_PVRCinemas This guy is Working in PVR cinemas Bilaspur CG and he is insisting Customers to take Combo pack of Rs100 along with the cost of Ticket :: When the customers are denying to take combo pack he is refusing to give ticket to the customer
IS THIS THE WAY PVR WORKS ??? pic.twitter.com/sUzPgC0r1m
— jaideep gupta (@jaideep164) November 30, 2022
@_PVRCinemas worst experience ever at pvr box office Kanpur. Bought 4 tickets today and they force me to buy these combos. Ticket price 85 Rupees and 100 Rupees per combo. Without combos they are not giving tickets. Such a shameful act by PvR Kanpur. pic.twitter.com/8WCx8eljV2
— UTKARSH (@tt50737496) March 7, 2019
We had purchased 3 tickets in the Prime category for the movie AngelhasFallen in PVR Surat. Without even informing us about any food and beverages combo offer, they added the amt to our ticket, taking Rs 705 instead of 465. This is a clear money making agenda by PVR@_PVRCinemas pic.twitter.com/vrMLcsQtxl
— Satkrit Poddar (@PoddarSatkrit) August 25, 2019
@PVRSupport Aj PVR singapore mall Lucknow me @AndhadhunFilm movie dekhne gya tha and counter pe service person ne tickets dene se mana kr diya. According to him agr movie dekhni h toh tickets k sath popcorn combo lena hi padega. Wat the hell was that.!!! pic.twitter.com/HWvt9QeuO4
— Saumy Tiwari (@Saumytiwari2) October 15, 2018
Hey @_PVRCinemas and @INOXMovies why you are forcing us to buy the food combo? Without food combo you are not giving us movie tickets. We go movie theatre to watch cinema, it is up to me if we want to buy your food or not. You cannot force us. @jagograhakjago pls look at it.
— soyabean/सोयाबीन???????? (@discoftr) March 10, 2024
This incident highlights an unfair and deceptive practice that not only misleads consumers but also erodes trust in multiplex chains like PVR Inox. After the consumer court’s ruling in Bengaluru and the widespread backlash over the Lucknow incident, it is high time that authorities step in to put an end to this malpractice, ensuring that moviegoers are not exploited under the guise of hidden charges or forced add-ons.
Also Read: Queen, Highway and Fashion to re-release during PVR INOX’s Women’s Day Film Festival; deets inside!
BOLLYWOOD NEWS – LIVE UPDATES
Catch us for latest Bollywood News, New Bollywood Movies update, Box office collection, New Movies Release , Bollywood News Hindi, Entertainment News, Bollywood Live News Today & Upcoming Movies 2025 and stay updated with latest hindi movies only on Bollywood Hungama.
