GST slashed on movie tickets: Akshay & Ajay thank PM Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 18 organised a meeting with Bollywood actors and producers at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai. According to reports, several issues pertaining to the film industry were produced in the meeting, one of them was GST (Goods and Services Tax) on movie tickets.

After GST Council Meet today, it was announced that the tax rates have been slashed on 33 items, which includes some consumer goods such as televisions, tyres, monitors and movie tickets.

Taking to the microblogging site, Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar, who was also a part of the December 18 meeting, expressed his happiness at the fact that GST (Goods and Services Tax) for film tickets have been slashed.

Kumar wrote on Twitter: “Quick action and how! Within a few days of our meeting with hon. Prime Minister @narendramodi ji, the Government addressed our concern…GST for movie tickets to be reduced. A welcome move for the industry and audiences as well.”

Quick action and how! Within a few days of our meeting with hon. Prime Minister @narendramodi ji, the Government addressed our concern…GST for movie tickets to be reduced. A welcome move for the industry and audiences as well.

— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) December 22, 2018

Ajay Devgn also took to Twitter and thanked PM Modi for his quick action. He wrote:  “The voice of the film industry was finally heard and immediate action taken, thanks to @narendramodi ji. For movie tickets priced below Rs. 100 the tax has been reduced from 18% to 12% now and for tickets priced above Rs. 100 the tax has been reduced from 28% to 18% now.”

The voice of the film industry was finally heard and immediate action taken, thanks to @narendramodi ji.

For movie tickets priced below Rs. 100 the tax has been reduced from 18% to 12% now and for tickets priced above Rs. 100 the tax has been reduced from 28% to 18% now.

— Ajay Devgn (@ajaydevgn) December 22, 2018

Screenwriter Prasoon Joshi also tweeted about the GST cut:

Signifcant decision #GSTCouncilMeet Good news for both cinema goers and #IndianFilmIndustry Movie tickets upto Rs. 100 which had 18% GST now brought down to 12% and the ones in the 28% slab will now be in 18% slab .Thank you PM @narendramodi for hearing us out last week .

— Prasoon Joshi (@prasoonjoshi_) December 22, 2018

The December 18 meeting drew heavy flak on social media, as not a single woman was invited. Dia Mirza shared her dissatisfaction over the prime ministers’ meeting.

Quoting Akshay Kumar’s tweet today, she wrote, “This is wonderful! Is there a reason why there were no women in this room? @akshaykumar (sic)”

This is wonderful! Is there a reason why there were no women in this room? @akshaykumar https://t.co/oO9teT3Gyi

— Dia Mirza (@deespeak) December 19, 2018

It is to be noted that producers Ritesh Sidhwani, Karan Johar, Rakesh Roshan, Ronnie Screwwala, Prasoon Joshi, the chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and Sidharth Roy Kapoor, the president of the Film Producers Guild were part of the exclusive meeting.

Also read: GST council slashes rates of 33 items from 18 percent to lower slabs