Hyderabad: Mexican multiplex operator Cinepolis will have 400 screens operational in the country by 2017 and plans to add around 300 more screens in the next seven to eight years, a company official said.

Cinepolis India MD Javier Sotumayor said, “We are adding more screens and the total number will go up to 400 by 2017. There is also a healthy pipeline of 300 screens which will take seven to eight years to become operational,” It is the fourth largest operator after PVR, INOX and Carnival Cinemas.

He said that across 46 multiplexes in 32 cities, Cinepolis also has megaplexes (more than 10 screens) in cities like Pune, Mumbai and Kochi. The official said the slowdown in the Indian real estate market had put a brake on the expansion of screens, but added that he was optimistic about the future, and is in talks with various developers at the moment.

The Indian operations accounted for 10% of the Cinepolis’ global ticket sales in 13 countries. In the eastern region, the operator was looking at 45 screens, including a seven-screen plex at Rajarhat near the metropolis. Indian operations of Cinepolis broke even in 2013 and was now making profits, he said. Cinepolis opened its first multiplex at Acropolis Mall in the city on Friday.