New Lido

Started as Lido in 1948, it was the oldest theatre of Santacruz-Juhu area with hardly any information available since it shut down eons ago. Hence, this article has been a significant effort for us involving a six month long extensive research. There is no picture available of the original theatre but the art design team of Farah Khan’s Main Hoon Na (2004) has been able to develop a near replica of its structure for one pivotal scene in the movie.

Lido was situated at a walking distance from S.V. Road bang opposite SNDT Girl’s college and Raheja College. It is close to Juhu Garden and the area is still referred as ‘Lido’. In those days, Marathi actor Sachin Pilgaonkar lived right adjacent to the theatre in Sangeeta Society which housed noted film personalities liked Raza Murad, Majrooh Sultanpuri and Mumtaz Begum. Famous producer-director Rajkumar Kohli also had his bungalow nearby. In the subsequent years, Suresh Wadkar’s academy ‘Ajivasan’ also came up close to Lido.

Between Bandra to Santacruz, there were only three cinemas then – Neptune, Bandra Talkies and Lido – and so naturally, it became the only option for movie buffs between Khar and Santacruz. The early ‘70s saw many theatres coming up in this stretch like Nandi, Milan, Ambar Oscar Minor trio and Chandan which lead to intense competition. Lido continued to be popular choice for patrons due to its low prices and easy availability of tickets.

When the theatre started its operations in late ‘40s, it was a rundown tin-shed establishment with wooden benches in stalls and coir seats in balcony. The tickets were a few annas (old time currency where one Rupee was equivalent to sixteen annas). There were fans placed at strategic locations and the entrance had folding wooden doors. Lido was known to screen Hindi, English and Konkani films in daily four shows. New Hindi films were screened in regular shows while English movies were reserved for Sunday matinee and occasionally, even Konkani films were screened for the nearby Catholic community. Some of the Konkani films screened here are Amchem Noxib (1963) and Nirmonn (1966).

The legendary Dev Anand held a special charity show of his film Nau Do Gyarah (1957) at Lido. During the release of Shammi Kapoor’s Dil Deke Dekho (1959), the cinema got a makeover with fresh paint and new seats. Lido was doing well till the ‘60s but started declining from the early ‘70s due to fierce competition from the neighbouring cinemas. It got a fresh lease of life when it was completely renovated in the mid ‘70s and got “New” added to its name. Sholay (1975), Jai Santoshi Maa (1975) and Shirdi Ke Saibaba (1977) had a great run here. A funny incident was narrated by my grandmother which occurred here during the release of the blockbuster Sholay. A patron started shouting loudly in the auditorium during the explosion scene in the movie shouting “Aag lag gaya” (“Lido caught fire”). It was later learnt that the guy belonged to a small village and had never seen in a movie in theatre before.

New Lido was home to many celebrities particularly directors Farah Khan and Sajid Khan were regular at this cinema. Their love for this theatre reflected in Lido being shown in Farah’s Main Hoon Na (2004) and Om Shanti Om (2007) while her brother Sajid still has ticket stubs of Lido in his collection. Actor-director Hosshang Govil was also a regular visitor to this theatre along with his wife Hemangi Govil. Konkani actor Anthony Mendes’ wife would not miss a single film of her husband here and would sometimes get emotional while watching her husband on screen.

In the ‘80s, Lido screened quite a few Jeetendra’s hits like Himmatwala (1983), Mawaali (1983), Justice Chaudhury (1983), Majaal (1983) and Tohfa (1984). Amitabh Bachchan’s Sharaabi (1984) was another smash hit at this cinema. During the video piracy regime, the theatre again faced downfall in mid ‘80s. It is said around this time, popular actor Amjad Khan bought New Lido and revived it as Juhu residents started calling it as Amjad Khan’s theatre. There were few changes made to the structure with a shopping centre and restaurant coming adjacent to it but due to some dispute, they both downed shutters within no time.

New Lido was still running but now Hindi films started coming here in the later weeks and did not have a prime release. Sholay re-run and Suniel Shetty’s debut film Balwaan (1992) provided some respite to the cinema. The final nail in the coffin was when Amjad Khan passed away in 1992 but still, the theatre managed to pull on for more than a year. Though there were stories surrounding that his family might revive the cinema, it never happened. Damini, Platform, Aashiq Aawara, Sangram, Khalnaaika, Ek Hi Raasta and Parwane were the last few releases at Lido before it closed in December 1993.

After the theatre shut down, Lido just remained a prime location in Juhu which is even today. Glory of Lido Cinema faded with time. In the last few years, it was speculated that superstar Shahrukh Khan had purchased the entire property where Lido Cinema existed which is not true. The Lido Towers in the nearby area does have Gauri Khan Designs which is owned by his wife.