The BEST supporting actor: How Mumbai’s cinema special buses connected moviegoers to theatres

Mumbai’s first motor bus, which began operations on July 15, 1926, between Afghan Church and Crawford Market. The city will mark 100 years of its motor bus service in July 2026. Pic/By Special Arrangement

As Mumbai's iconic BEST bus service approaches its centenary next month, a rare timetable from the 1960s has uncovered a forgotten chapter in the city's transport history, dedicated "Cinema Special" buses that connected railway stations with some of Mumbai's most famous movie theatres.

At a time when single-screen cinemas ruled the city's entertainment landscape, BEST operated specially timed services that picked up moviegoers from major railway stations, dropped them directly at cinema halls and waited to ferry them back home after the show. The discovery offers a glimpse into a period when city's public transport network and film culture worked hand in hand.

How the service worked

Step 1: The pickup
As local trains arrived at major stations, dedicated BEST buses waited outside to collect moviegoers heading for evening shows.

Step 2: The drop
Passengers were taken directly to cinema halls in time for the start of the film.

Step 3: The wait
While audiences watched stars such as Dev Anand, Madhubala, Manoj Kumar and Dilip Kumar on screen, the buses remained stationed nearby.

Step 4: The return journey
After the movie ended, the same buses transported passengers back to railway stations for their journey home.

BEST and Bollywood: A long connection

The relationship between Mumbai's public transport system and film industry stretches back more than a century.

>> India's first public film screening took place at Watson's Hotel in Bombay on July 7, 1896.
>> BEST traces its origins to 1874.
>> Trams and buses regularly featured in films set in old Bombay.
>> BEST buses continue to be used in film shoots.
>> Bus tickets once carried advertisements for new film releases.

Why it mattered

Before app-based taxis, ride-hailing services and widespread private vehicle ownership, the service offered:
>> Seamless last-mile connectivity
>> Safe late-night travel
>> Convenient station-to-theatre transport
>> Reliable return journeys after shows

Voices

Shubham Padave, bus enthusiast
"The Cinema Specials highlight the unique relationship that once existed between Bollywood and BEST. It offered a complete experience, with BEST playing a crucial supporting role by ensuring audiences could reach home after the final show."

Deepak Rao, city historian
"The BEST has a glorious history. The need now is to revive the organisation, which is losing ground."

Ambadas Garje, curator, BEST Museum
"The Cinema Specials were more than just utility; they were a social hub. The ride back to the station was often filled with the lively chatter of people passionately reviewing the film, or singing the latest Bollywood tracks under the dim yellow light of the bus interior."

What BEST says

"It is not 100 years, but the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking officially celebrated 75 years of municipalisation by the Bombay Municipal Corporation on August 7, 2022. BEST has had a glorious history, and this year, we are focusing on the revival of the undertaking and its bus fleet. We have also sought R3000 crore from the BMC to improve its finances and plans to expand its own fleet."

Trushna Vishwasrao, BEST chairpersonw

Famous personalities associated with BEST

>> Johny Walker
>> Sunil Dutt
>> Hasrat Jaipuri
>> Prashant Damle
>> Sharad Ponkshe
>> Avinash Narkar
>> Arun Nalavade

At a glance

Discovery:
BEST timetable from the 1960s
Special service: "Cinema Specials"
Purpose: Transport moviegoers to and from theatres

Key stations:
>> Churchgate >> Bombay Central

Famous cinema destinations:
>> Regal >> Eros >> Metro >> Liberty
Era: Golden age of single-screen theatres

BEST by the numbers

1874
Origin of the BEST undertaking

July 15, 1926
Mumbai's first motor bus service was launched

Route
Afghan Church to Crawford Market

2026
100 years of Mumbai's motor bus service

Bus centenary countdown

1913
BEST begins exploring motorised buses

Feb 10, 1926
Decision taken to launch bus operations

July 15, 1926
First bus rolls out between Afghan Church and Crawford Market

July 2026
Bus service completes 100 years