Mumbai: The hearts of heritage watchers fluttered with anxiety Saturday after pictures emerged of the iconic Eros Cinema in Churchgate veiled behind a big green curtain. The iconic single screen cinema which has been a pillar of the city’s Art Deco heritage since 1938 is engulfed by speculation over whether any proposed renovation will deprive it of its unique character.

More horrifying was the prospect of demolition that was discussed on social media, although the fact that Eros is located in a heritage precinct precludes that possibility. The Cambata family that owns Eros is settled abroad and was not immediately available for comment.

Film maker Apurva Asrani tweeted, “Heartbreaking to see Eros Theatre being torn down. This South Bombay Art Deco landmark, built in 1938, was where I bunked college to go to. It’s where I went on my first date & where my first film ‘Satya’ released in ‘98. Sad that Mumbai can’t preserve its heritage buildings.”

A BMC official, who was formerly with A ward, admitted that there was a proposal to revamp Eros Cinema. Earlier reports had said the theatre was being refurbished with new use and part theatre. The plan was to convert the 1,200-seater theatre to 300 seats. The interiors would be altered which would change the character of the theatre. But the external facade would be preserved.

Assistant municipal commissioner of A ward Shivdas Gurav said that in the last two days the ward has cleared debris that was lying behind the theatre after locals objected. “This debris belonged to a garage that was lying in the premises which had not been picked up and locals had complained about it. We only cleared that,” he said.

In 2019, citizen stakeholders who took the lead for south Mumbai’s Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles being inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list in 2018 had raised concern over the condition and future of Esplanade Mansion and Eros Cinema in the precinct.

They had said efforts should be made for the preservation of Eros Cinema and other structures which face threats from extensive internal change.

The fact is that single screen theatres have fallen on hard times with the arrival of multiplexes and online streaming platforms. Revenues are scarce and many iconic theatres have had to shut down. Prime real estate fetches higher revenues once commercialized.