The Milkha Singh biopic has been exempted from entertainment tax in four Indian states
Helping its box office run, Bollywood biopic Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is getting tax incentives from state governments in India. Several states seem to be tripping over each other to exempt entertainment tax on the film about India’s Olympic athlete Milkha Singh. They think the film will inspire national pride and a tax break will lower the ticket price for audiences, thus encouraging more movie-going.
Goa, in South India, gave a three-month reprieve on Thursday. Karnataka state is considering the tax break while Maharashtra, home state of Bollywood, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi territory have already approved it.
Director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra told the Indian media, “Normally, many families wait for a good film to come on cable television and other platforms. But, now with the tax exemption, the ticket prices will fall and more people will come to theaters to watch the film.”
Box office gross for the Reliance Big Pictures release on Indian athlete Singh has so far cumed US$1.4 million.