The iconic Gaiety Galaxy theatre in Bandra, Mumbai, was shut down by police on Monday after a cable wire caught fire before the screening of ‘Hanuman Ansh’. The incident triggered an uproar among the audience waiting for the show.
The situation escalated when some people allegedly tore down the ‘Mirzapur: The Movie’ posters displayed at the theatre. Police later inspected the theatre’s documents and found irregularities related to its licence.
Fans create ruckus over cancelled ‘Hanuman Ansh’ show
‘Hanuman Ansh’ was scheduled to be screened at the theatre on Monday. Some political activists had arrived to watch the film, but the show could not begin after a cable wire reportedly caught fire.
The audience protested when the screening was delayed. An argument reportedly broke out between some people and the theatre staff, following which posters of ‘Mirzapur: The Movie’ were allegedly torn down. Police reached the spot and subsequently took action against the theatre management.
Gaiety Galaxy has decades of Bollywood memories
Gaiety Galaxy began its journey in 1972 with ‘Seeta Aur Geeta’ and has since become one of Mumbai’s most recognised theatres. Over the years, it has witnessed the craze surrounding several blockbuster films and attracted Bollywood stars.
Tickets for ‘Zanjeer’, which were originally priced at ₹5, were once reportedly sold for ₹100 amid the film’s huge popularity. Stars including Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone have also visited the theatre to experience the audience’s reaction.
Kareena Kapoor was once locked in the projector room
The theatre also has a memorable story involving Kareena Kapoor. During one of her visits, she was reportedly locked inside the projector room to protect her from the huge crowd gathered outside.
A picture of Shah Rukh Khan arriving at Gaiety Galaxy during the release of Pathaan.
When the situation worsened, the police were called. Police investigation revealed that the theater’s license had expired in 2021-22. It has not been renewed since then. Following this, due to non-compliance with regulations, the theater management was instructed to close the premises and stop the shows. Bandra Police has registered a case against the theater owner, manager, and the company operating the cinema under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
12 notices pasted outside the theater
12 notices have been pasted on the walls outside the theater. These provide information regarding the closure of the shows.
Police cite licence issue, owner denies it
A senior police officer told Mid-Day that Gaiety-Galaxy did not have a valid licence and was ordered to shut down. Another officer claimed its entertainment licence had not been renewed since 2021-22.
However, owner Manoj Desai denied the licence issue, telling Hindustan Times that the theatre was closed because some cables had burnt out. He said replacement cables had been ordered and shows would resume after repairs.
Gaiety-Galaxy started in 1972
The iconic cinema began in 1972 with three screens — Gaiety, Galaxy and Gemini. Four more screens were later added, making it the seven-screen G7 complex.
Shutdown may cause ₹17–18 lakh daily loss
Trade analyst Girish Wankhede estimated that the theatre could lose around ₹17–18 lakh every day during the shutdown. A week-long closure could push the loss beyond ₹1 crore.
A theatre filled with Bollywood memories
‘Seeta Aur Geeta’ was the first film screened here in 1972. The theatre later witnessed the craze around ‘Zanjeer’, with ₹5 tickets reportedly being sold for ₹100 in the black market.
During the ‘Refugee’ premiere, Abhishek Bachchan and Kareena Kapoor were reportedly kept in the projector room as crowds gathered. Shah Rukh Khan has also visited Gaiety-Galaxy to watch audience reactions to his films.
Akshay Kumar- During the release of the films Boss in 2013 and Ram Setu, he reached the theater to see the audience’s reaction.
Deepika Padukone – A few days after the release of Pathaan, she arrived at Gaiety Galaxy in disguise to witness the audience’s reaction to the film.
Kartik Aaryan – After the release of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, Kartik reached Gaiety Galaxy to meet his fans; a massive crowd had gathered to catch a glimpse of him.
Sunny Deol and Ahan Shetty- Arrived unexpectedly at Gaiety-Galaxy during a screening of Border 2 in January 2026. Fans gave both of them a grand welcome.
Shatrughan Sinha- Arrived at Gaiety-Galaxy to watch Gadar 2 in 2023. G7 Executive Director Manoj Desai had mentioned his visit.
