Rich superstars Mohanlal, Mammootty, poor contributors?

Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 25: The superstars of Malayalam film industry, Mammootty and Mohanlal charge an average of Rs 1.5 crore per movie, while their annual returns filing is an average of Rs 2 crore, the recent Income Tax (I-T) raids on the house of the stars have revealed.

According to reports, the I-T officials will now inspect their returns for the past 5 years and also a prospective one year will be assessed. The assessment period will be 2006-2012.

The superstars would have to give away 30 percent of their incomes and unearthed assets if there are no efforts by them to destroy evidences and concealing facts.

Meanwhile, the I-T officials are awaiting the presence of both the superstars at Chennai so that more buildings linked with them can be inspected.

The officials are also in contact with the Archeological Survey of India to get an expert to assess the value of Mohanlal's personal collection of antiques. The officials further added that they did not intend to disturb the stars during their shooting schedules, keeping in mind this could affect the film industry.

“The rest of folks in the industry have perhaps taken a cue," said an IT official.

The stars were never under the scanner of local I-T officials for the past 30 years because the stars used to file their returns at the Chennai office. The compensation of Rs 1.5 crore per movie was less when compared to other actors from South India, who earned at least Rs 10 crore.

“We found our superstars" annual returns were just the money coming out of one film contract. It was just about time to call the bluff," an official said.

OneIndia News