How Miraj Cinemas reinvented Aakash Cinema, a 1989-dated single screen theatre, as an Art Deco-inspired multiplex

When Aakash Cinema (Azadpur) opened its doors to the cinemagoers of Delhi in 1989, the single-screen theatre with 1,000 seats witnessed a beeline of people waiting to watch Amitabh Bachchan-starrer Shahenshah. For nearly three decades, it entertained generations of movie buffs, but its closure in 2016 was concomitant to a broader trend of single-screen cinemas struggling with the multiplex boom and changing audience habits. Today, as it stands renamed to Miraj Cinemas, Bhuvanesh Mendiratta, managing director, Miraj Entertainment, sheds light on what it took to convert this single-screen theatre to an Art Deco-inspired three-screen multiplex that balances the old with the new.

The Lobby
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Special arrangement

After Miraj Cinemas leased the property that was originally established by Ravinder Singh Anand (through his company Middle East Estate Builders) and overhauled it, the venue is now officially known as Miraj Cinemas, Azadpur (at the Aakash Cinema Commercial Complex). “The idea behind revamping Aakash Cinema was to give it a new lease of life while upgrading it with modern amenities; a comprehensive commercial complex featuring a three-screen multiplex, food court, retail shops, and parking facilities. Miraj wanted to blend nostalgia with next-gen entertainment, preserving some of the old cinema’s aura,” says Bhuvanesh.

Aesthetically, the redesign theme draws from Art Deco and classic cinema heritage
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Special arrangement

Miraj Cinemas executed the redesigning of the area over a span of six to eight months. “One big challenge was to balance old and new — preserving the soul of the old theatre while meeting today’s luxury expectations. The team kept the nostalgia mostly in the thematic design elements, rather than, say, preserving old seats or the old screen. Another challenge was space optimisation: fitting lobbies, restrooms, and F&B areas into what was originally just a cinema hall and foyer,” he explains.

Chef’s corner
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Special arrangement

Aesthetically, the redesign theme draws from Art Deco and classic cinema heritage. “There are Art Deco-inspired patterns and wall textures — a nod to the cinema’s vintage past. Expect polished marble flooring, glow-lit ceilings too. The space is garnished with geometric motifs and some retro-style decor pieces (mirrors, lights) to evoke the golden age of cinema, but in a fresh way,” he shares.

The revamp also involved dividing the space to create three separate auditoriums with a total of 446 seats (Audi 1: 239, Audi 2: 104, Audi 3: 103). Bhuvanesh adds: “The architects/engineers had to add new soundproof walls between auditoriums, ensure each screen had projection sightlines, and install updated seating on re-graded floor slopes. One challenge here is to maintain excellent acoustics and sightlines in the new, smaller auditoriums when working within the shell of an old single-screen; Miraj achieved this by equipping all screens with 2K digital projection, immersive 3D, and Dolby surround sound.”

Popcorn vend at the cinema
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Special arrangement

Previously, in 2024, Miraj Cinemas had revamped Chand Cinema in Mayur Vihar Phase 1, New Delhi, a once-popular standalone theatre, as a six-screen luxury multiplex under the new brand Chand Miraj Cinemas. But Miraj Cinemas is only one of the many players that are looking to revive single-screen theatres, by transforming them into premium, tech-driven venues in Delhi. Some of the examples are PVR Priya (Vasant Vihar, Delhi), an iconic 1978-dated single-screen cinema relaunched in 2021; Vishal Cinema (Rajouri Garden, Delhi), a 1,400-seater transformed into PVR INOX Vishal, a six-screen multiplex with IMAX and 4DX in 2023; and Chanakya Cinema (Chanakyapuri, Delhi), though not a recent revamp, it’s worth noting that this legendary venue was demolished and rebuilt into a luxury mall with PVR Chanakya inside.

At present Miraj Cinemas is screening Jolly LLB 3, Nishaanchi, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle and Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi. Tickets for these can be booked via Miraj’s website or apps and through third-party ticketing platforms, as the multiplex is now fully operational.