NEGLECTED AGAIN: NO BUDGET FOR BOLLYWOOD

The film frat says there was no emphasis on the entertainment sector

KAILASH KHER, Although we add a heavy percentage to the revenue, nobody takes us seriously... The government only focuses on increasing the service tax

The Union Budget 2017-18 might have addressed concerns of farmers and rural population, and offered betterment for the salaried class, but the film fraternity is fuming. No exemption of entertainment tax, no relief after demonetisation that affected film revenues, and not even a mention of the film industry — film celebs say the entertainment industry is only neglected, year after year.

Filmmaker Hansal Mehta says, “As long as filmmakers are paying taxes, nothing bothers the government as we are very compliant.” Trade analyst Amul Mohan adds, “Bollywood has a majority of tax-paying individuals. But no relief has ever been offered. I can’t even remember the last great reform the industry was given on a budget day.”

For years, Bollywood has been at loggerheads with entertainment tax. Distributor Sanjay Ghai says the government expects a lot from film industry but returns nothing. “When have they ever paid attention to us that they will now? They loot us.”

Singer Kailash Kher adds that nobody takes the creative industry seriously. “The government doesn’t see that this industry adds to a large percentage of India’s growth and they should take us into account and support us.”

Filmmaker Kunal Kohli, however, says it’s a two-way process. “As an industry, we need to widen our association and put our demands across. But those from the fraternity and now in politics should also represent us as an industry.” Actor-filmmaker Piyush Mishra also has a differing opinion. “Bollywood does not require anybody’s support to run. We have independent producers who put in money and make profits for themselves.”

SINGER For the last twenty years, the film industry hasn’t even been regarded as an industry by the government in the Union Budget. Clearly, films are not their priority HANSAL MEHTA, FILMMAKER Bollywood is an autonomous industry. So I’m not sure if we have anything to do with the budget PIYUSH MISHRA, ACTOR-FILMMAKER We are a very small industry given the larger perspective, so we have to make our voice heard ourselves KUNAL KOHLI, FILMMAKER