Located in the heart of the capital city, it is difficult to miss the landmark theatre Regal Cinema. Built in the colonial era, it was one of the busiest cinema halls until the concept of multiplex was introduced to movie buffs. On Thursday night, the iconic theatre ended its 84-year run and screened the final shows of Raj Kapoor's Sangam and Mera Naam Joker. Crowds poured in to see the final shows before the theatre gets revamped in the form of a four-auditorium multiplex, which will have a combined capacity of over 620 viewers.
Fashion designer Nida Mahmood | Rahul Dutta
Though the look will be something fresh, celebrities feel nostalgic thinking about the memories associated with the cinema hall. Sunil Sethi, president of Fashion Design Council of India was a regular visitor of the cinema hall and grew up watching movies with his family. “My memory of the theatre harks back to the time I was a child. My Sunday outing meant going to Regal with my family, sitting in the box there. Before entering, there was a weighing scale outside where I used to put a 10 paisa coin to check my weight. While going inside, I used to beg my father to give me a coin of higher denomination—25 paisa or 50 paisa—to listen to the jukebox. Then we would often go to the Standard Cafe, where my parents had cona coffee. The hall I remember had red velvet curtains seperated by a gold rim. For me, it was like going to a theatre in England or to an opera in Italy as there were not many choices.”
The fashion honcho was also planning to host a couture week show there. “I was planning to host a couture week show there for one of my designers. If they will wait for a few months, I will be more than happy to offer them a show there,” he says.
Regal Cinema was a landmark for city's local residents as well as visitors. For fashion designer Nida Mahmood, it was a heritage site and she will miss the popcorn. “Even though I did not grow up in Delhi, in my 15 years here, I have watched many movies in this theatre. Their vintage popcorn, with its old school packaging, was my favourite. Sadly, modernisation was its bane. I just hope the owners will try to capture the history and flavour of the original in the multiplex that is being built in its place,” she says.
Regal Cinema has also fascinated people for its colonial-style facade. Built in 1932, the architecture of the movie buff’s paradise is a blend of Georgian construction style and exquisite Mughal elements. With revamp, the interiors may also get the new look. Zorawar Kalra, founder and managing director, Massive Restaurants Private Limited, says he will miss the old-world appeal of the winding staircase. “Regal Cinema has never failed to fascinate me with its impressive, colonial-style façade and vintage movie posters. It has been a huge part of many childhood memories. The theatre is an integral part of Indian cinema and it is definitely a loss to Delhi, as it has always been a hard-to-miss, iconic landmark for locals and tourists alike. I will surely miss the old-world appeal of the winding staircase and the quaint, yet elegant décor accents that contribute to Regal Cinema’s heritage and charm,” he says.
Regal Cinema was also a hot favourite of yesteryear Raj Kapoor and Nargis, who used to attend film premieres there.