Traffic snarls, Sitladevi Mandir and Paradise cinema—these three have long been the mainstay of Mahim’s Lady Jamshedji Road. But in the past three weeks, the theatre, among the oldest in Mumbai, wears a different look. The posters have been pulled down, gates locked and a deserted air has filled the space that used to be bustling with the latest releases and ardent fans. 

Buzz suggests that plans to tear the property down and turn it into a multiplex are afoot. This has sparked buzz among cinephiles and heritage enthusiasts, as Paradise Cinema—currently owned by the Dubash family—has been a landmark since its establishment in 1939-1940.