When are Pakistani cinemas reopening, asks Nabeel Qureshi

While actors like Fahad Mustafa are hopeful, filmmakers and stakeholders are surviving on virtual releases, reserves

As the world welcomes another James Bond film, Pakistanis are wondering whether they’ll ever get to visit their local cinemas again.

Theatres have been struggling to survive amid the Covid-19 restrictions, where keeping an optimistic approach is the only way forward for stakeholders who have invested millions in the business.

And while it may be easier for established actors like Fahad Mustafa, who aren’t entirely dependent on their films’ getting a live release to maintain their lifestyles, filmmakers like Nabeel Qureshi are becoming restless.

As seen from their latest tweets, Fahad shared, “#JamesBond premiere today at London. Hoping to see our cinemas back in action soon [as well]. The world is getting back to normal it’s a good sign!” while Nabeel asked, “Cinemas kab khulengay (When will cinemas re-open)?” 

#JamesBond premiere today at london 😊Hoping to see our cinemas back in action soon ♥️. World is getting bak to normal its a good sign!

— Fahad Mustafa (@fahadmustafa26) September 28, 2021

Cinemas kab khulengey ?

— Nabeel Qureshi (@nabeelqureshi) September 28, 2021

But even when cinemas were looking to re-open in July this year, everyone turned a blind eye to the elephant in the room; could a box office increasingly dependent on Bollywood get a new life through Hollywood and Pakistani films only?

On that note, even multiple Indian publications have reported that all Indian theatres in Maharashtra will reopen from October 22, after a hiatus. The reopening comes after 18 months of the box offices remaining shut in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, followed by the series of lockdowns since March 2020.

No Time To Die, on the other hand, finally received its world premiere in London on Tuesday, with cinema's most high profile red carpet that featured the likes of Oscar winners and British royalty. The film had been delayed three times since its original, April 2020 slot was moved as theatres around the world came to a halt.

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