Eros Cinema

Eros Cinema’s been commanding the busy junction at Churchgate since 1938. A monument dedicated to Streamline Moderne – a phase of Art Deco that was obsessed with the romance of travel, speed and a futuristic city – the cinema’s distinctive V-shaped stepped tower structure makes it an unmissable stop on an Art Deco tour of Mumbai. In fact, not too many people know that it’s a UNESCO World Heritage site. 

It was, of course, envisioned as the complete entertainment magnet when it was commissioned by Parsi businessman Shiavax Cawasji Cambata (and designed by architect Shorabji Bhedwar). And indeed, crossing the threshold’s a deliberate step back into more glamorous days. The marble foyer featuring black and white floors accented with gold, the symmetrical winding staircases flanked by gleaming handrails, the bas-relief murals that depict the actual process of filmmaking – everything about the cinema’s designed to impress. Even the exterior plays a theatrical role, with the famous ziggurat profile looming large, its tiers mimicking an ancient temple. It’s a clever design trick best appreciated from across the street. 

The cinema was refurbished to offer totally modern services inside, despite the old-world charm of the exterior. Expect state-of-the-art IMAX technology, new retail spaces, eating joints and more. 

Time Out trivia: The cinema once famously hosted the legendary Alfred Hitchcock for a premier of Master of Suspense in the 1950s.