To minimize the danger of the virus, only those with COVID-19 vaccination certificates or with a “safe status” on the state-run health app will be allowed into theaters. Masks and temperature checks are mandatory and no food or drink will be allowed inside.

Theaters elsewhere in the country are already putting on shows.

The city of Mumbai has been one of the worst hit in the country by the pandemic, but has gradually reopened following a drop in COVID-19 cases and deaths. The cinemas there, however, are among the last public venues to reopen – a hugely symbolic gesture in the country’s financial capital, also known for its Bollywood film industry.

Each year, the $ 2.8 billion industry produces more than 2,000 films. The success of Bollywood over the years has integrated cinema into contemporary Indian culture and has been a boon to the economy.

Restrictions on movie theaters to prevent the spread of COVID-19 have hurt operators. But the industry is expected to rebound. Indian filmmakers have planned major releases ahead of Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, when sales peak and audiences flock to theaters.

The return to cinema in Mumbai comes a day after India celebrated its billionth dose of COVID-19 vaccine. According to Our World in Data, about half of India’s nearly 1.4 billion people have received at least one dose while about 20% are fully immune.

India witnessed an overwhelming outbreak of coronavirus earlier this year, but life has returned to normal. Markets are bustling with activity, foreign tourists are re-allowed and the country is preparing to celebrate Diwali.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that India’s vaccination campaign is an example of what it can achieve if citizens and government come together for a common goal. He said this step silenced critics from India.

“Injecting 1 billion doses is not just a figure but a reflection of the country’s determination. India has written a new chapter in its history. The world will now take India more seriously after this landmark event, ”Modi said in a live nationwide televised speech.

Modi also urged people to buy goods made in India to boost the economy, which is expected to benefit from festival season shopping.

“There are some among us who trust only foreign brands, even for the daily necessities. The success of Made in India vaccines is a paradigm shift, ”he said.