Mumbai: In a significant legal development, a practising advocate of the High Court and Supreme Court Advocate Snigdha Khandelwal has issued a legal notice against PVR INOX Limited and the producer of the film Dhurandhar: The Revenge, alleging deficiency in service under consumer law.
Advocate Snigdha Khandelwal has initiated the action by issuing the notice through Advocate Ali Kaashif Khan Deshmukh, on behalf of her client, a 26-year-old Mumbai woman who claims to have suffered severe inconvenience during a late-night movie screening.
The incident pertains to an 11:30 PM show at a premium LUXE auditorium in Andheri, where the complainant had purchased a ticket worth approximately ₹1,770. According to the notice, what was expected to be a luxury cinematic experience turned into a prolonged and distressing ordeal.
It is said that the screening began late, was interrupted multiple times due to technical glitches, and ultimately stretched until 4:30 AM—converting a routine movie outing into a five-hour experience. The complainant has further highlighted that the recliner seating, a key feature of the premium auditorium, was defective and caused significant physical discomfort, including back pain. Several seats reportedly stopped functioning altogether during the show.
The notice also states that despite repeated complaints, the theatre staff failed to provide adequate assistance or timely resolution. Although PVR INOX subsequently refunded the ticket amount and offered complimentary passes, the same was rejected by the complainant as being “grossly inadequate” in light of the inconvenience caused.
In a notable legal stance, the notice has also been issued to filmmaker Aditya Dhar, contending that producers who commercially benefit from theatrical releases cannot completely evade responsibility for the quality of exhibition and audience experience.
The complainant has sought compensation amounting to ₹15 lakh for the alleged deficiency in service, harassment, and mental and physical distress caused. The notice further warns that failure to comply within seven days will result in appropriate legal proceedings under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
The matter has sparked attention in both legal and entertainment circles, raising important questions regarding accountability in premium cinema experiences.
