Who Will Save Pakistan’s Struggling Entertainment Industry?

Lollywood in Crisis

Pakistan’s film industry, known as Lollywood, is facing a steep decline. The 2019 ban on Indian films and TV content has hit the sector hard, drying up both box office revenue and audience interest.

Bollywood Ban’s Heavy Impact

Before the ban, Bollywood films like Bajrangi Bhaijaan (₹34 crore) and Sanju did well in Pakistan. Their success showed the strong demand for Indian cinema among local viewers. Now, with Indian content off-limits, cinema halls are closing and footfalls have dropped sharply.

Industry Voices Speak Out

Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri told The Right Angle:
“Since the ban, theatre numbers in Pakistan have dropped. The local industry is almost gone. Most content is Dubai-backed, with little connection to Pakistan.”

Cinema Now a Luxury

Movie tickets in Pakistan cost between ₹600 to ₹2,000, while the average monthly income is around ₹15,000. Entertainment has become unaffordable for the masses—a point raised by Sonal Kalra on her show The Right Angle, produced by Gautam Thakker Films.

Fawad Khan’s Setback

Actor Fawad Khan’s return to Bollywood with Abir Gulaal has been delayed due to the recent Pahalgam attacks. The film’s hold adds to the growing list of roadblocks faced by artists and filmmakers.

Can Lollywood Survive?

With few cinemas left, rising costs, and no strong local content, Pakistan’s entertainment industry is fading fast. For many, a movie night is now out of reach. Unless drastic changes are made, entertainment in Pakistan will remain a luxury—and Lollywood may fade into history.

About the author

Neha Nikharge

Neha Nikharge is Assistant Editor at Awesome TV and a writer for AWSM Times. Neha covers Bollywood, OTT releases, celebrity interviews and pop culture for South Asian audiences in the US and around the world, and has written more than 4,500 stories for Awesome TV. Story tips and corrections: hello@awesometv.com.

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