Putting Up Film Posters Himself To Owning Rs 17,300 Crore PVR Group, A Look At Ajay Bijli’s Story – News18

We’ve all gone to PVR Cinemas for our movie fix but do you know the visionary behind it all? The man at the helm of PVR Cinemas is none other than Ajay Bijli. He is the founder, chairman and managing director of the PVR Group, credited with introducing the concept of multiplexes in India. Ajay has not only changed the movie-going experience for the audience but has done so with a touch of sophistication. Today, PVR Cinemas proudly stands as one of the largest chains of multiplexes in India.

Born into a prosperous business family, Ajay completed his Bachelor’s in Arts with Honours from Delhi’s Hindu College. Additionally, he pursued the Owner/President Management Program at the prestigious Harvard Business School.

At 22, Ajay embarked on his career journey with his father’s transport business, Amritsar Transport Co., established in 1988. However, he gradually realised that this line of work didn’t align with his true passions. He recognised it as a generational aspiration of his forefathers and not his calling. He candidly approached his father, expressing his desire to venture into something distinct, something beyond the family enterprise, although undecided on what that might be.

Around this juncture, Ajay encountered his father’s venture, Priya Cinema (initially named Priya Love Vikas Cinema) in Delhi, acquired back in 1978. He harboured a vision to revolutionise cinema halls in India. Thus began his enduring romance with the cinema business.

Ajay personally handled tasks like putting up movie posters and even selling tickets at PVR. However, just as things were progressing well, his father’s sudden demise left Ajay in charge of the family’s transport business. Undeterred by the circumstances, he entrusted the business operations to his cousins based in Amritsar, retaining a portion of the share for himself.

Ajay Bijli resumed his mission to establish PVR as a premier multiplex brand. He joined forces with the Australian company Village Roadshow and coined the name ‘PVR’, incorporating ‘Priya’.

In 1997, Ajay unveiled the first PVR multiplex in Saket, Delhi. This marked the onset of the multiplex revolution, propelling PVR to the forefront of cinema brands in the country. According to the company’s records, PVR is now a presence in 115 locations nationwide, boasting a total of 1708 screens. The market capitalisation of PVR listed on the stock exchange stands at an impressive Rs 17,300 crore.