Eros Cinema is a celebrated Art Deco cinema theatre located within the Cambata Building at Churchgate, Mumbai. Commissioned in 1935 by Parsi businessman Shiavax Cawasji Cambata, the project rose on a newly reclaimed Back Bay plot that also accommodated shops and commercial spaces. Construction took roughly two and a half years, and the cinema officially opened to the public on 10 February 1938. The British Technicolor film The Drum is widely accepted as the inaugural screening on opening day.
Designed by architect Shorabji Bhedwar, the building exemplifies the Streamline Moderne variant of Art Deco and symbolised the dawn of Back Bay reclamation-era modernism in early 1938.
Architecture & interiors
The exterior is finished in a cream palette, partially faced with red Agra sandstone. Two elegant wings converge at a central block, creating a strong axial presence on Maharshi Karve Road. Inside, the foyer originally featured black-and-white marble flooring with subtle gold accents. Marble staircases with chromium handrails led patrons upward, while murals in muted tones depicted Indian architectural motifs.
The original auditorium carried a dramatic Art Deco language: cloud-patterned wall treatments, a lower half clad in black marble, and two monumental relief sculptures running the length of the hall—one illustrating the construction of a film set, the other capturing actors at work during a shoot. The proscenium arch displayed a large relief of an orchestra in performance, flanked by tall columns with gold striping. Although chambers were provided for a theatre organ, there is no confirmation that a pipe organ was ever installed.
Transformation, closure, and revival
When the theatre was later converted to IMAX, most of the original auditorium—including the balcony—was removed to accommodate the new format. The floor was steepened for the larger screen, leaving the side relief sculptures positioned much higher than before.
Eros Cinema closed in April 2017, after which the Cambata Building was temporarily sealed due to legal disputes. Following intervention by the Bombay High Court, the premises were unsealed, though film screenings did not immediately resume. The Cambata family subsequently explored revival options that would respect the heritage fabric of the structure.
A major restoration and renovation was undertaken by conservation architect Kirtida Unwalla along with architect Hafeez Contractor and his team. The cinema finally reopened in February 2024, introducing a modern configuration that includes a 1,300-seat main theatre and a 300-seat IMAX screen, while preserving the building’s historic identity.
Eros Cinema is also part of the Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai, which was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2018.
Below are the highlighted features of Eros Cimema:
Style: Art Deco / Streamline Moderne
Commissioned: 1935 by Shiavax Cawasji Cambata
Opened: 10 February 1938
First film screened: The Drum (1938)
Architectural features: Marble foyer, chromium railings, large relief sculptures, Art Deco murals
Major restoration: Led by Kirtida Unwalla with Hafeez Contractor
Reopened: February 2024 with modern theatres including IMAX
Heritage status: Part of Mumbai’s UNESCO-listed Art Deco ensemble
(Image: Eros Cinema during 1960s)
Book tickets for Eros Movies: https://www.imax.com/theatre/eros-and-imax
How to reach:
Location Overview
Eros Cinema is located in Churchgate, South Mumbai, opposite Churchgate Railway Station and close to Marine Drive, Oval Maidan.
It lies within Mumbai’s Art Deco Heritage Precinct.
🚆 By Local Train (Most Convenient)
- Nearest Station: Churchgate (Western Railway)
- Distance: 200 meters
- Walking Time: 2–3 minutes
How to walk:
- Exit Churchgate Station (West side)
- You will see Eros Cinema prominently opposite the station
