The GST [Goods and Services Tax] Council has slashed GST on movie tickets from 28% to 18%. The tax on tickets costing up to Rs100 has been reduced to 12% from 18% while for tickets costing more than Rs100 it has been reduced to 18% from 28%.
Producer Siddharth Roy Kapur, president of Producers Guild of India, thanked the government for the step. “On behalf of the Indian film industry, I would like to thank the government for taking this progressive step. This will help the industry move forward positively with increased investments in both exhibition infrastructure and creative development, enabling even better cinema and greater screen density across the country,” he said in an official statement.
Film director and producer Karan Johar also thanked prime minister Narendra Modi for reducing the GST for movie tickets. “Would like to thank our Prime Minister @narendramodi for the swift action on the GST rate on movie tickets….Great news at the year end! Thank you sir for your proactivity and support…..” he said on his official Twitter page.
Film exhibitor Akshaye Rathi also thanked Modi and finance minister Arun Jaitley. “Congratulations to all in the film fraternity! The GST council has announced a slash in the GST rate on movie tickets! Much needed relief for the industry & the audience! Happened late, but I’m glad it happened! @arunjaitley @narendramodi,” he said on Twitter.
Congratulations to all in the film fraternity! The GST council has announced a slash in the GST rate on movie tickets! Much needed relief for the industry & the audience! Happened late, but I’m glad it happened!@arunjaitley @narendramodi
— Akshaye Rathi (@akshayerathi) December 22, 2018
The decision has come days after a group of male members from the Hindi film industry met with prime minister to discuss issues faced by them collectively.