Ajay Bijli
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Ajay Bijli is the managing director of PVR INOX Ltd, the combined entity post the merger of India's film exhibition players, PVR Ltd and Inox Leisure Ltd. PVR INOX Limited is the fifth largest listed multiplex chain globally. Bijli is the founder of PVR Cinemas and was the chairman and managing director of PVR Ltd before the merger with INOX Leisure Ltd. He is also the managing director of
PVR INOX Pictures PVR INOX Pictures Limited is the film distribution arm of PVR INOX, which also owns PVR Cinemas and INOX Leisure, two of the largest multiplex companies in India. It was earlier named PVR Pictures but post the merger with INOX Leisure, it wa ...
, the motion picture wing of PVR INOX Ltd since 2013. He is on the board of trustees of the
Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image The Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI) is a public trust that organises the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival in the city of Mumbai, India. Priyanka Chopra, Priyanka Chopra Jonas is the chairperson of the trust while Shivendra Singh Dungarpur serves ...
and is the founding member of FICCI Multiplex Association India (MAI). He is also a member of The Film and TV Producers Guild (India),
Young Presidents' Organization YPO (formerly Young Presidents' Organization) is a US-based organization of chief executives with more than 36,000 members in more than 142 countries. History YPO was founded in 1950 in Rochester, New York, by manufacturer Ray Hickok, who was ...
and is on the advisory board of Shopping Centres Association of India. He is also associated with the
Central Board of Film Certification The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) is a statutory Motion picture content rating system, film-certification body in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of the Government of ...
, Government of India. Bijli has also completed the Owners/President Management program from the Graduate School of Business Administration,
Harvard University Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...
. He is an YPO Gold Fellow of the world’s largest leadership community of Chief Executives.


Early life and education

Ajay was born and raised in Delhi, India. His father Late Krishan Mohan Bijli was employed by the family's road freight business, Amritsar Transport Co., which was initially established by Ajay's grandfather in 1939. The family later moved to Delhi, where Ajay pursued his education at the Modern School. He completed his
BCom A Bachelor of Commerce (BCom or B Com) is an undergraduate degree in commerce, accounting, mathematics, economics, and management-related subjects. The degree is mainly offered in Commonwealth nations. Structure Bachelor of Commerce The Bach ...
from Hindu College of
University of Delhi The Delhi University (DU, ISO 15919, ISO: ), also and officially known as the University of Delhi, is a collegiate university, collegiate research university, research Central university (India), central university located in Delhi, India. It ...
. After graduating, he joined his family's transportation business and his father's Priya Theater in
Delhi Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, but spread chiefly to the west, or beyond its Bank (geography ...
. Bijli's father Krishan Mohan Bijli died in 1992 and in 1994 a big fire broke out in the warehouse of his transportation business. On the advice of his mother, Bijli wrote cheques to all of those whose goods were gutted in the fire. In 1995, a Hollywood producer introduced Bijli to an Australian production house "
Village Roadshow Village Roadshow is an Australian company which operates cinemas and theme parks, and produces and distributes films. Before being acquired by private equity company BGH Capital, the company was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange a ...
" which expanded in India further and led to the start of PVR-Priya Village Roadshow.


Career


Initial years and the beginning of theatre business

During his childhood, Ajay frequently visited his father's office, located near his school. In 1978, when his father took the ownership of Priya Cinema, Ajay found himself getting inclined towards movies. At the age of 22, he joined his family's transportation business, despite lacking enthusiasm for it. Later, Ajay convinced his father to let him run Priya Cinema for six months. He took inspiration from Sterling Cinema in
Mumbai Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...
, and renovated Priya Cinema, installed a
Dolby Dolby Laboratories, Inc. (Dolby Labs or simply Dolby) is a British-American technology corporation specializing in audio noise reduction, audio encoding/compression, spatial audio, and high-dynamic-range television (HDR) imaging. Dolby li ...
Sound System, refurbished interiors, and started playing
Hollywood movies The cinema of the United States, primarily associated with major film studios collectively referred to as Hollywood, has significantly influenced the global film industry since the early 20th century. Classical Hollywood cinema, a filmmakin ...
. He targeted a niche audience and recovered his initial investment within a year. The
Government of India The Government of India (ISO 15919, ISO: Bhārata Sarakāra, legally the Union Government or Union of India or the Central Government) is the national authority of the Republic of India, located in South Asia, consisting of States and union t ...
then announced the decontrolling of movie ticket prices along with a reduction in
entertainment tax Entertainment tax, also sometimes referred to as "amusement tax", is any tax levied on any form of commercial entertainment, such as movie tickets, exhibitions, sport events and more. The specific rules such as the tax rate and cases of tax ex ...
, which helped in propelling Priya Cinema's profits.


Foray into multiplexes

In 1995, Ajay met John Crawford, Asia managing director, Village Roadshow, an Australian media major which was keen to get into India at that time. They entered into a joint venture, which led to the inception of Priya Village Roadshow (PVR). In 1997, PVR set up India's first modern multiplex cinema at
Saket (Delhi) Saket is a residential colony and the administrative headquarters of the South Delhi district of Delhi in India. The neighborhood is named after the city of Ayodhya, also known as Saket, an ancient, religiously significant city in Uttar Prade ...
after reconstructing the Anupam Cinema.


Struggle and growth

Ajay continued to expand PVR in other parts of Delhi, and had 12 screens by the year 2000. After his Australian partner left Village Roadshow from Indian market, Bijli decided to expand his business, and negotiated deals worth Rs. 100 crores for nearly 50 screens across Hyderabad, Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai by 2001. The expansion deals were impacted by the
September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks, also known as 9/11, were four coordinated Islamist terrorist suicide attacks by al-Qaeda against the United States in 2001. Nineteen terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners, crashing the first two into ...
in the
United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
, leaving Ajay fending for his Rs. 100 crores deals on his own. He then secured a funding of Rs. 80 crores from ICICI Ventures in 2003.


Breakthrough

In 2012, PVR acquired the
Mumbai Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...
-based Cinemax and Ajay became its managing director. Ajay also acquired DLF's DT cinemas in the year 2016. In 2017, the American cinema player iPic Entertainment appointed Bijli on a board position, from which he resigned in July, 2018.


Post pandemic

As the founding member of Multiplex Association of India, Ajay initiated and submitted enhanced safety and precautions plan for cinemas to
Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India) The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is a ministerial level agency of the Government of India responsible for the formulation and administration of rules, regulations and laws in the areas of information, broadcasting, the press, and th ...
and various other state governments. Ajay also ensured that business operations at PVR continued with responsibility and care towards its employees, customers and communities at large. PVR’s Covid-19 relief efforts became the brand’s first project ever that had no budget. Ajay-led PVR also organised free vaccination camp at PVR Juhu in Mumbai, for film workers and their dependants in partnership with Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital. In 2022, Ajay launched a music video with his band Random Order to pay a tribute to the medical community for their selfless work throughout the pandemic.


Merger with INOX

In April 2023, following the merger of PVR Cinemas and INOX Leisure Limited, Ajay became the Managing Director (MD) of the merged entities, PVR INOX Ltd and PVR INOX Pictures Ltd.


Discography


Philanthropic work

Ajay is one of the founding members of PVR Nest, a social arm of PVR Ltd, established in 2006. PVR Nest is a registered foundation, in alignment with UN Sustainable Goals and works via Public Private Partnership models, towards transforming urban spaces and facilities to make cities more liveable for women, children and marginalised communities.


Awards and recognition

* Outstanding Contribution To Indian Cinema Award 2024 by IIFA for his remarkable impact on the growth and accessibility of cinema across the country. * First Indian Film Industry official to be invited to deliver keynote address at CinemaCon 2023 organised by
National Association of Theatre Owners Cinema United, formerly known as the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO), is an American trade organization whose members are the owners of movie theaters. Most of the operators of worldwide major theater chains are members, as are ...
. * India Today Conclave 2023. * 100 Retail ICONS of INDIA 2019 by Images Retail. * International Exhibitor of the Year at CineAsia Awards 2017, Hong Kong. * Asia Innovator of the Year at India Business Leader awards by
CNBC TV18 CNBC TV18 is an Indian pay television business and financial news channel operated as a joint venture between NBCUniversal and Network18 Group. History The network has its origins in ABNi, an Indian sub-feed of the Dow Jones-led Asia Bu ...
in 2016. * Business Icon of the Year at International Film Business Awards by Indywood Film Market and ALIIFF. * Most Admired Multiplex Professional of the year in CMO Asia's Multiplex Excellence Awards.


Personal life

Ajay is the son of Late Krishan Mohan Bijli and Sandhuro Mohan Bijli. His younger brother Sanjeev Bijli is his business partner in PVR Cinemas. He married his high school sweetheart Selena in 1990, and has three children - two daughters and a son.


See Also

*
PVR INOX PVR INOX Limited is an Indian multiplex chain. It was formed in 2023 as a result of the merger between PVR Cinemas and INOX Leisure Limited. PVR pioneered the multiplex revolution in India by establishing the first multiplex cinema in 1997 ...
*
PVR Inox Pictures PVR INOX Pictures Limited is the film distribution arm of PVR INOX, which also owns PVR Cinemas and INOX Leisure, two of the largest multiplex companies in India. It was earlier named PVR Pictures but post the merger with INOX Leisure, it wa ...


References


External links


Profile
at
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bijli, Ajay Indian businesspeople Indian company founders Year of birth missing (living people) Living people