Kaun dekhega filmein?: Fatima

Actress Fatima Sana Shaikh questions proposed 570 per cent entertainment tax hike in Mumba

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has proposed a 570 per cent hike in the local entertainment tax for air-conditioned cinema halls and multiplexes in Mumbai. While not many celebrities have reacted to it, recently, Dangal actress Fatima Sana Shaikh spoke about it and questioned, ‘Who will watch films?’ She further stated that watching a movie is already an expensive experience.

During a news channel event, when Fatima was asked about it, she said, “Kaun dekhega fir filmein? Waise hi koi nahi dekh raha. Film dekhne jaana ho, toh 2000-3000 toh easily... 1000 ke toh popcorn hai. Kaun khayega? Matlab 10 baar sochna padega (Who will watch movies then? No one is watching anyway. If you want to go see a movie, it’s easily Rs 2000-3000... popcorn costs Rs 1000. Who will eat it? You’ll have to think 10 times).”

She further said that tickets nowadays cost around Rs 700-800 and going to a theatre is an expensive experience. She also called it ‘classist’. Fatima further said, “It is also very classist, I must say, because single screens are over, so you have already alienated your audience. There are a lot of people who find going to a theatre very intimidating because they feel they don’t fit there.

This (570 per cent hike) is very sad, it shouldn’t be the case because films are the easiest way to reach the audience and to even question morality or question anything. The moment you make it expensive, you are taking it away from a lot of people.” Fatima was recently seen in the OTT series Hunkkaar, in which she played the role of a cop. She has another web series titled Teen Kauwe lined up.