Ranchi, Jharkhand | June 2026

When Akash Jalan opened Eylex Cinemas’ first multiplex in Ranchi in 2007, the conventional wisdom in India’s entertainment industry was straightforward: quality cinema belonged in metros. Tier 2 cities were seen as too small, too price-sensitive, too risky for serious investment. Nearly two decades later, Jalan’s wager has not only paid off—it has produced a 24-screen cinema network spanning eight cities and a franchise model that is now drawing serious attention from entrepreneurs across the country.

The Contrarian Bet That Became a Blueprint

Understanding Eylex Cinemas’ franchise opportunity requires understanding the conviction at its origin. When the company planted its flag in Ranchi, it was not following a trend—it was creating one. There was no established playbook for premium multiplexes in Jharkhand. There was no guarantee that audiences in Bihar or Odisha would pay for a cinema experience that rivalled what Mumbai or Delhi had to offer. What there was, however, was a fundamental gap between what audiences wanted and what the market was supplying.

Eylex Cinemas filled that gap methodically. It invested in proper audiovisual infrastructure, maintained comfortable air-conditioned halls, priced tickets accessibly, and built a reputation for reliability. Shows ran on time. Sound quality was consistent. Seating was comfortable. These are not extraordinary claims in a metropolitan context—but in markets where cinema-going had long been associated with deteriorating single-screen halls, they were genuinely transformative. Word spread, audiences came, and the brand embedded itself into the social fabric of Eastern India.

A Franchise Model Engineered for Real Markets

The franchise programme Eylex has now launched is not a brand-extension exercise. It is the formalisation of a model that has already been stress-tested across multiple cities and market conditions. Prospective franchise partners are not being asked to take a leap of faith—they are being invited into a system with an 18-year operational track record.

The company offers three differentiated franchise formats. The first targets Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities with a cost-efficient, high-throughput cinema configuration that prioritises audience volume and community accessibility. The second addresses the premium segment of Tier 1 and larger Tier 2 markets, where audiences are willing to pay for an enhanced large-format experience. The third is the brand’s luxury offering, positioned for sophisticated urban markets seeking the highest standard of cinematic presentation.

What makes this structure particularly attractive from an investment standpoint is its inherent scalability. A franchise partner can enter with a single-screen operation and expand in phases as market demand grows—or launch a full multiplex if the location and capital permit. This flexibility is unusual in the franchise sector, where most brands impose standardised formats that may not be optimally suited to every market.

The Untapped Economics of Non-Metro Cinema

India’s cinema market is frequently discussed through the lens of its largest chains and biggest cities. What this framing obscures is the extraordinary opportunity that exists in the middle of the country’s urban hierarchy. Cities with populations between 200,000 and one million—and there are dozens of them—are experiencing rapid growth in disposable income, aspirational consumption, and digital connectivity. They are also largely underserved by organised cinema infrastructure.

For an entrepreneur based in one of these cities, this creates a first-mover advantage that is difficult to replicate once the market is occupied. A well-run cinema in a city with limited multiplex competition does not merely capture existing demand—it generates new entertainment habits, draws F&B spend, and becomes an anchor for retail activity in its vicinity. The economic case for early entry into these markets is compelling, and Eylex’s experience across exactly these types of locations gives its franchise partners a significant information advantage.

Support That Goes Beyond the Opening Day

One of the persistent concerns among prospective franchise investors is the quality of post-launch support. Horror stories abound across various franchise categories of brands that provide intensive pre-opening assistance and then largely disappear once the agreement is signed and the investment is made. Eylex Cinemas has structured its programme to address this concern directly.

Franchise partners receive comprehensive support spanning theatre design and fit-out, procurement of audiovisual technology, staff recruitment and training, marketing systems for local audience development, and access to the brand’s established relationships with distributors and content providers. Critically, this support continues through the operational life of the franchise, not merely through the launch period. For first-time cinema operators, this ongoing guidance significantly de-risks the venture and accelerates the learning curve.

A Moment of Genuine Opportunity

The timing of Eylex Cinemas’ franchise expansion is not accidental. India’s box office is performing strongly, content pipelines across Hindi and regional language cinema are robust, and the infrastructure gap in non-metro markets remains wide. At the same time, the capital required to enter a well-supported cinema franchise is within reach for a growing class of regional entrepreneurs who have accumulated wealth through other businesses and are looking for their next significant investment.

The combination of brand credibility, operational systems, and market timing makes the Eylex franchise opportunity one of the more interesting propositions available to investors in the entertainment sector today. Territories are limited, and the company has made clear that it will be selective in its partner choices. For entrepreneurs who have been watching India’s cinema sector and looking for an entry point that does not require building from scratch, the window is open.

About Eylex Cinemas

Eylex Cinemas (Eylex Films Pvt. Ltd.) is a leading multiplex and single-screen cinema chain headquartered in Ranchi, Jharkhand. Founded by Akash Jalan in 2007, the company pioneered the multiplex model in Eastern India and currently operates 24 screens across Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, Assam, and West Bengal. Eylex Cinemas is actively expanding its national footprint through a structured franchise programme. For enquiries, visit eylex.com/franchise.

Media Contact

Website: eylex.com

Mail: franchise@eylex.com