By
RUBY ZAIDI
A shocking case of alleged overcharging has come to light at PVR Cinemas in Lucknow, specifically at the Saharaganj Hall in Hazratganj. Customers have accused the multiplex of inflating ticket prices at the counter, charging them significantly more than the rates displayed on online booking platforms. The matter was recently exposed in a viral video posted by a social media creator, who shared her personal experience of being overcharged while purchasing tickets directly at the cinema.
The woman in the video recounted how she had planned to watch the newly released Bollywood movie ‘Chhaava’ along with three companions. Before heading to the counter, she checked the ticket price on the popular booking platform BookMyShow. According to the online listing, each ticket was priced at Rs 160, making the total cost for four tickets Rs 640. Additionally, BookMyShow imposed a convenience fee, bringing the final amount payable through the app to Rs 758.
Since she was already at the cinema and preferred to avoid the extra online charges, she decided to purchase the tickets directly from the counter. However, to her surprise, the staff quoted an inflated price of Rs 1,038 for the same four tickets. When she did the calculation, she realized that the multiplex was charging Rs 259 per ticket, a stark contrast to the Rs 160 listed online. Confused and taken aback, she immediately questioned the pricing discrepancy.
Upon asking for an explanation, the counter staff justified the higher amount by claiming that GST and other additional charges were included in the final price. However, the group pointed out that the BookMyShow price had already factored in all applicable GST and service charges, and there was no legitimate reason for the hike at the counter.
Frustrated by the apparent discrepancy, the group confronted the staff, demanding a proper breakdown of the cost. The confrontation made the counter employees visibly uncomfortable. In an attempt to justify the inflated amount, the staff initially included an unsolicited “combo” offer in the ticket price, which had never been requested by the customers. When this was brought to their attention, the bill was slightly reduced to Rs 938. However, this was still significantly higher than the original online price of Rs 640.
Determined not to be scammed, the woman and her group refused to pay the excess amount and insisted on a correct breakdown of the charges. At this point, the counter staff member appeared to lose patience, threw her pen down in irritation, and abruptly left the counter to consult with her manager. Upon returning, she finally issued the tickets at the original Rs 640 rate, confirming that the additional charges were baseless and unjustified.
The video also included photographic evidence of the tickets, clearly showing that CGST, GST, and service charges were already included within the Rs 160 per ticket price. This raised further questions about why the cinema was attempting to charge extra GST at the counter when it was already factored into the displayed cost.
The social media creator further alleged that this was not an isolated event but rather a recurring pattern at PVR Cinemas in Lucknow. She revealed that she had encountered a similar experience at PVR Sahu, another multiplex in Hazratganj. In that instance, the staff had overcharged her group three times before they firmly stood their ground and demanded the correct pricing.
The video has since sparked widespread outrage among netizens, with many viewers calling for strict action against such fraudulent practices. Customers have expressed concerns about whether they, too, have been unknowingly overcharged in the past. Some have even suggested filing a consumer complaint against PVR Cinemas for engaging in misleading pricing tactics.
As this controversy gains momentum, consumer rights advocates are urging authorities to investigate the alleged scam and ensure transparency in movie ticket pricing. Meanwhile, affected customers are being advised to always demand a proper breakdown of charges and not hesitate to challenge any suspiciously inflated pricing at cinema counters.