Upala KBR (MID-DAY; January 31, 2018)

Close on the heels of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council’s decision to increase the threshold limit for tax exemption on tickets for theatrical performance to Rs 500, from the earlier Rs 250, Nana Patekar intends to bat for further reduction.

The council’s decision resulted from the constant plea of the performing arts community, which has been battling the 18 per cent tax levied on tickets priced over Rs 250. The slab, they say, has had an impact on footfalls.

However, Patekar hopes that the government can further slash the tax percentage to half to address the community’s concerns. “I connected with Sudhir Mungantiwar [Maharashtra’s cabinet minister of finance, planning and forests departments] and asked him to reduce the tax percentage to half. While communication has halted after he had a throat surgery, I plan to take up the issue again. I will be happy if they eliminate all taxation on this [entertainment] community since it is impacting us immensely.”

Although actors of his calibre can earn a sizeable share for projects by procuring them from the producers, Patekar says it is the artistes who eventually suffer. “Humko kya hai? Hum producers se lenge. But what about the writers, directors, cinematographers and other technicians? You are applying GST on everything. This should not happen,” says the veteran actor.