There should be no service tax for film industry: Akshay Kumar

Mumbai: Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar feels the government should not levy service tax on the film industry as it would increase the financial burden.

"Our industry is already paying huge taxes, so the service tax should not happen. But I am sure the government and the industry knows the best. I am sure the industry will go and tell the government that whatever is happening is not right, we should try and remove it completely," Akshay said here Wednesday. The service tax is effective from this month and film and television actors will be charged 12.36 per cent service tax on their earnings from film, TV shows and endorsements. Artistes are opposing the move, saying it would cast additional financial burden on them as they were already paying income tax. "Few films are getting shelved because of the implementation of the service tax. Many producers have locked their doors and have walked away, only big producers and corporates are backing the films," he said. "If it (implementation of service tax) happens, this will be the biggest thing for the industry. It is not right, especially for the producers," Akshay said. If the 12.36 per cent service tax is not rolled back, the respective TV and film associations may go on strike from February onwards. They will not release of any films during this period. In case the Film and Television Producers` Guild of India and Association of Motion Pictures and Television Program Producers (AMPTPP) decide to go ahead with the strike, films including Bejoy Nambiar`s `David`, Akshay Kumar starrer `Special 26`, Remo D`Souza`s 3D dance film `Any Body Can Dance` (ABCD), Vivek Oberoi`s `Jayanta Bhai Ki Luv Story` are likely to be affected. On January 7, actors, directors, theatre owners and others down south went on a hunger-strike in Chennai demanding the service tax to be scrapped. PTI