Audiences shying away from IMAX screens due to 'Dhoom 3' ticket prices?

It goes without saying that Dhoom-3 has to be the most ambitious Bollywood release of the year. However, the excessive ticket prices for the film at IMAX theatres has left a lot of college students disgruntled as they can't afford to spend that kind of money for a single movie. On the other hand, some enthusiastic fans preferred to watch the movie in IMAX theatres only.

Aamir Khan at a press conference clarifying the ticket price row. Pic/Yogen Shah

While talking to a few fans outside PVR Phoenix Mills, we also noticed that the evening and night show for IMAX was already booked in advance. Zaid Khan, a Science student from Wilson College, who came to watch the heist, had to skip his original plan. "I was excited to watch Dhoom-3 in IMAX format but I don't want to pay Rs 700 for a ticket."

Shikha Verma and Durgesh Jain, who work with a city-based bank, happily purchased the IMAX tickets. "We were waiting for Dhoom-3 to release, of course for every movie we wouldn't buy such high-priced tickets but for one or two movies, we can afford," says Shikha.

Six to eight medical students belonging to Nair College were present to watch the 11am show. One of them, Divyani Jain, says, "With the kind of amount we'd shell out for one ticket in IMAX, we can actually buy two movie tickets of a normal screen."

Though the afternoon show was a little dull at IMAX as only 170 seats out of 444 were occupied, a source from the multiplex said on the condition of anonymity: "There were a few students who came in morning to watch the movie in IMAX but took the regular screen ticket because of the high cost but evening and night shows are fully booked." u00a0

Setting the record straight
Aamir Khan at a press conference yesterday held strong to his views on the ticket price controversy.

"The price range of Dhoom-3 tickets is same as what it was for Chennai Express -- not even a percent increase." The ticket prices for the film reportedly range from Rs 400-600 for the morning shows and Rs 700-900 for the night shows.

"The only difference is that an Indian film is getting released in IMAX and there are only four-five IMAX theatres in India," the actor summed up. u00a0