State exempts movie from tax
The state government has granted tax exemption to Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, the Farhan Akhtar-starrer biopic on the legendary athlete Milkha Singh.
The tax exemption, valid for the next six months from Saturday, has been granted as the film’s main objective was to promote sports among youth, a Mantralaya official said.
Considering this, the state granted the exemption to the film under Section 6 (3) of the Maharashtra Entertainment Duty Act 1923, the official said.
The state also took into account the fact that the film has been co-produced by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC). Akhtar plays the title role in the biopic featuring Sonam Kapoor, Divya Dutta, Prakash Raj and Pawan Malhotra.
Director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra said, “I am so glad that the state has turned around so fast with a positive response without any long procedures. The entertainment tax on this film has been waived in Maharashtra and Delhi as of now, and we are hoping for the same in the rest of the country as well. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is a family experience and I feel it must reach every household as soon as possible. This film is made for people from all the different income and age groups. An 8-year-old will enjoy it as much as an 80-year-old. I am of the opinion that the tickets for this film must be affordable fro every household so that they don’t need to wait for it to play on the small screen, but instead are even more excited to watch it again then.”
Mr Mehra, Mr Akhtar and crew members of the movie had met revenue minister Balasaheb Thorat on Wednesday at Vidhan Bhavan and sought tax concession for the film.
“After the tax exemption, the ticket rates of the movie will be slashed. We informed the government that many more people would be able to watch the movie after the tax exemption and many more will be inspired by what was done by the legend Milkha Singh,” Akhtar told reporters after the meeting.
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