Vidya Balan starrer Hamari Adhuri Kahani goes tax free in MP: Know why Congress is miffed

Bhopal, June 10: Madhya Pradesh government on Thursday said that the Vidya Balan-Emraan Hashmi starrer upcoming film "Hamari Adhuri Kahani" will go tax free in the state.

"The state government has exempted film 'Hamari Adhuri Kahani' from entertainment tax on screening in cinema houses," an official release said.

Directed by Mohit Suri and produced by Mahesh Bhatt, the film is a romantic drama and is set to hit theatres this Friday.

Balan and Suri recently met Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and his wife Sadhna at the latter's official residence as a courtesy.

As per a TOI report, as soon as the tax exemption news came, Congress alleged that on one hand BJP government is increasing VAT on fuels (petrol, diesel) and tariff on electricity and on the other hand it is favouring Bollywood celebrities unnecessarily with tax exemptions.

"Every month, the chief minister announces exemption of entertainment cess from a Bollywood film. Chief minister seems suddenly charmed by Bollywood glitterati," state Congress vice-president Manak Agarwal was quoted as saying in the daily.

"Less than a fortnight ago, he exempted Amitabh Bachchan and Deepika Padukone starrer Piku from entertainment tax. We would understand if it was a film with a historical or moral, ethical value for society. But now Hamani Adhuri Kahani is a romance film.

And without judging the contents of the film, how can a government just exempt a purely commercial film venture from taxes just because the film's producer and heroine paid him a visit?" Manak Agarwal further added.

OneIndia News

(With inputs from agencies)