Taliban government demolishes historic Ariana Cinema in Kabul to make way for shopping mall

Kabul: The historic Ariana Cinema, a resilient landmark in downtown Kabul that survived decades of war and revolution, has been completely razed by demolition crews to make way for a modern commercial centre.

The demolition of the theatre, which first opened its doors in 1963, began on Dec. 16 and was finished within a week. For generations of Afghans, the cinema was more than a building; it was a cultural sanctuary that provided an escape through Bollywood musicals and Hollywood action films during the country's most turbulent eras.

“It's not just a building made of bricks and cement that is being destroyed, but the Afghan cinema lovers who resisted and continued their art despite the hardships and severe security problems,” said Amir Shah Talash, an Afghan film director and actor now living in France. Speaking to The Associated Press, Talash lamented the loss, stating, “Unfortunately, all the signs of historical Afghanistan are being destroyed.”

The destruction follows a series of restrictive decrees by the Taliban government since seizing power in 2021. Following their return, the administration shuttered all cinemas and, in May 2024, formally dissolved the Afghan Film Administration. While the Ariana had sat in a state of limbo, Kabul municipal authorities ultimately determined the site was better suited for a new $3.5 million shopping complex.

Niamatullah Barakzai, a spokesperson for the Kabul Municipality, defended the decision by framing the cinema as a business venture rather than a historical monument. “Cinemas themselves are a kind of commercial activity, and that area was a completely commercial area and had the potential for a good market there,” Barakzai said. He added that the city aims to develop its land to "generate good income from its resources and bring positive changes in the city."

Ariana’s history mirrored the country's own trajectory. It was built during the modernising era of the Afghan monarchy, but was severely damaged during the Soviet invasion and the subsequent civil war in the 1990s. After being closed during the first Taliban regime from 1996 to 2001, it was restored in 2004 with support from the French government.

For many, the cinema held international significance. In neighbouring Pakistan, where Indian films were banned following the 1965 war, fans would often travel to Kabul just to watch Bollywood releases at the Ariana. Sohaib Romi, a Pakistani enthusiast who visited the theatre in 1974, expressed a sense of deep personal loss. “My memories are buried in the rubble of the Ariana Cinema,” he said.

Despite the physical destruction, Talash maintained a glimmer of optimism for the future of Afghan culture. “Buildings may collapse, but art lives on in the minds and hearts of people,” he said.

With inputs from AP