THE Indian Premier League (IPL) has undoubtedly become the latest and hottest blockbuster in the city - leaving the usually teeming city multiplexes and single screen cinema halls virtually empty throughout the Twenty20 series.

With Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) owner and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan promising that he would give his audience the 'multiplex experience' with three hours of action-packed entertainment live on the fields every match night, theatre owners are reporting an alarming drop in earnings.

"Kolkatans are getting the chance to catch Shah Rukh Khan live in action and are not at all bothered about visiting theatre halls during the IPL," Arijit Dutta, owner of Priya Cinemas and Star theatre, told IANS. "As a result, we hardly have a handful of people for our matinee and evening shows; the night shows literally run empty."