TheInterviewTimes.com | February 23, 2026 | 10:09 PM IST | New Delhi
Amid changing audience behavior and the rapid rise of OTT platforms, the multiplex model needs to be reimagined. “Multiplexes must be democratised; pricing has to come down,” said noted mediapreneur and CEO of Content Engineers, Utpal Acharya.
He was speaking as the special online guest at the February chapter of Talk Cinema On The Floor (TCOTF) from Mumbai, organised by the New Delhi Film Foundation (NDFF).
Held on 22 February at Sri Aurobindo Centre for Arts and Creativity, Delhi, the session served as an interactive platform to discuss cinema as art, business and audience experience. The programme began with opening remarks by NDFF Founder Ashish K. Singh, who reiterated the vision behind TCOTF — to build a consistent and meaningful forum for serious dialogue on cinema. He emphasized that cinema must be viewed not only as entertainment but also as an art form as well as a cultural and economic force.
A new segment titled “My Journey” was introduced to spotlight filmmakers from Delhi. Filmmaker Irshad Dilliwala shared his creative journey — from designing book covers in Meerut to studying at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune. The trailer of his latest film Graduate Farzana was screened and appreciated by the audience. The Executive Producer of this film Harish Sharma was also present in this programme. Irshad Dilliwala also spoke candidly about the filmmaking process and the realities of the growing film festival circuit.
Film scholar Vibha Jha from Pune delivered a talk on “Indian Cinema Content: Audience Reception.” She discussed evolving audience psychology and the social factors that shape a film’s success. Referring to the recent film Dhurandhar, she highlighted how compelling storytelling continues to resonate strongly with viewers. She also discussed the audience psychology and it’s role in a film’s success.
The special guest of the event was Utpal Acharya, CEO of Content Engineers, who joined online from Mumbai to interact with the participants. Utpal Acharya drew from over two decades of experience to discuss the evolving dynamics of film operations, distribution, investment, and the shifts brought by the OTT era. Having held pivotal leadership roles at major studios like Sony Pictures, Reliance Entertainment, and UTV, Acharya has been instrumental in the production and distribution of over 800 films, including blockbusters like Singham, Ghajini, 3 Idiots, and Spider-Man.
During the interactive session, he highlighted the transition from single screens to multiplexes and predicted the rise of the “Miniplex Model.” He suggested that the future belongs to 100-200 seater theaters with affordable ticket pricing—ideally around ₹100—to bring mass audiences back to the big screen.
Addressing the challenges of modern filmmaking, Acharya noted that “often, it is the pricing rather than the content that hurts a film’s success.” He encouraged emerging filmmakers, stating that Content Engineers is eager to collaborate with those who possess powerful, rooted stories. Appreciating the New Delhi Film Foundation (NDFF) for its efforts, he assured his continued support in promoting meaningful cinema.
The session concluded with announcements of upcoming NDFF initiatives, including bi-monthly professional meets and collaborations with the theatre community. Vaibhav Maitreya and Harinder Kumar presented the upcoming plans and programmes to be organized by NDFF to boost the foundation’s objective in creating an eco-system for filmmaking and filmmakers in Delhi-NCR.
The event ended with a networking tea session that fostered creative and professional exchanges. The February chapter of TCOTF marked another significant step in strengthening cinema as a space for artistic dialogue, business insight and cultural engagement.
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