Iconic New Delhi movie theatre shuts down after 85 years
NEW DELHI — From Bollywood superstars to political heavyweights, the Regal theatre hosted some of India’s biggest names over more than eight decades.
But with nostalgic theatre-goers singing their way to the exits after a final showing of a Bollywood classic, the iconic New Delhi theatre has closed its doors to make way for a multiplex.
“It’s the end of an era. It’s very sad,” said Nanak, who had worked at the theatre since 1979. Nanak, whose grandfather and father were part of the Regal’s management team in the 1950s and ’60s, uses one name.
With its corridors studded with black-and-white images of Bollywood stars such as Nargis, Madhubala, Meena Kumari, Dev Anand and Raj Kapoor, the magic of a bygone era was visible throughout the theatre.