Can any film break Sholay’s record for highest ticket sales?

[Sneha]

Sholay sold a massive number of tickets in India and still tops the record by a huge margin. Do you think any film today has a real chance of beating it, given how viewing habits have changed, or will this record stay untouched?

[Komal]

I don't think so... Sholay sold that many tickets back then because there were no TVs, no OTT, and over 25k screens were available. Now we have only about 5,000 screens, mostly multiplexes.

[Madhav]

Never. No movie would stay in theatres that long organically, especially since many people know an OTT release is coming in a few months.

The footfall Sholay generated in the '70s was extremely impressive, and even when DDLJ tried to copy it by forcing a long run at a single theatre, it didn't work.

[Dinesh]

Maybe, if India ever reaches a China‑level box office. For example, *Ne Zha 2* got over 300 million footfall just in China.

[Kartik]

It seems really tough because we now have many other entertainment options, including OTT. The number of screens has been slowly declining and ticket prices are high. Still, I wouldn't call it impossible – a strong religious film could have the best chance, since religion moves people here like nothing else.

[Atharv]

Only if the number of theatres in India grows at least five‑fold.

[Dev]

Sholay is the GOAT when it comes to popularity.

It sold tickets equal to about a quarter of India's population back then. Today a film would need to sell around 35 crore tickets (plus streams) to match that.

[Arpita]

My dad says it was such a big deal that people set up tents outside the theatre and slept overnight just to watch it.

[Akhil]

No.

There aren't as many theatres, movies don't stay that long, and people prefer at‑home options now.

[Raghav]

When you factor in population and purchasing power, the gap becomes even more significant.

[Ashwin]

Feels like this subreddit is a PR agency for YRF – they even removed my post.