Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, Karan Johar meet Narendra Modi to speak about issues faced by Indian film industry

A delegation representing the Indian film and entertainment industry met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mumbai on Monday, and pitched for lower and uniform rates of GST for the fraternity.

Actors Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn, filmmakers Karan Johar and Rakesh Roshan, Censor Board chief Prasoon Joshi Ronnie Screwvala, Vijay Singh - CEO - Fox Star Studios and Producers Guild of India President Siddharth Roy Kapur were a part of the delegation that met Modi.

Heartfelt thank you to the honorable Prime Minister @narendramodi ji for taking out time to hear us at length, discuss issues pertaining to our industry and assuring positive consideration of suggestions. pic.twitter.com/ShGfr0Jlvu

— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) December 18, 2018

It was enlightening to hear the honourable Prime Minsiter @narendramodi share his views on our Industry’s soft power status and the strength of our cinema...he gave our media and entertainment representatives a patient and solid hearing....thank you Sir!! pic.twitter.com/BIl8ubQwYa — Karan Johar (@karanjohar) December 18, 2018

Had an extensive and fruitful interaction with a delegation from the film and entertainment industry.

The delegation spoke about the strides being made by the film and entertainment industry, and gave valuable inputs relating to GST for their sector. https://t.co/ulQMtxTJQj pic.twitter.com/n4Dn38EJLr

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 18, 2018

Happy to see the passion among members of the film and entertainment industry towards the development of India. They talked at length about ways to further Mumbai’s development, particularly with regard to making it a global hub for entertainment. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 18, 2018

According to a PIB statement, the delegation gave Modi an overview of the vast growth potential of the media and entertainment industry in India, and said that this sector is poised to contribute in a significant way towards the Prime Minister's vision for making India a five trillion dollar economy in the near future.

The film fraternity members even pitched for lower, and uniform rates of GST, for the entertainment industry in India, apart from calling for the development of Mumbai as the global entertainment capital, through various initiatives and proactive approaches.

Modi said the Indian entertainment industry enjoys immense popularity across the world. It is one of the key elements of India's rising soft power status, globally, he added.

He assured the delegation that the Union Government is supportive of the media and entertainment industry, and would consider the suggestions positively.

This is the second such meeting in the year after a delegation met Modi in Delhi in October.

Kapur, who was a part of the past meeting, had told IANS in a recent conversation: "The main agenda to discuss with the PM was what the entertainment industry in India can contribute as a soft power of the nation around the world and how it would be wonderful if the government could encourage this industry in very tangible ways to be able to grow and thrive."

He said issues like low screen density in the country need to be taken care of.

"We are a very underscreened country. The taxation levels in the country are extremely high (they are in the top bracket when it comes to GST), there is double taxation on the film industry because the local bodies have a right to impose their own tax on the industry. So, if all these impediments to the growth of the film and TV industry can be removed, we see a boom in the quality of content being created and in the reach of that content and in our ability for us to take the India story around the world.

"The PM was very open and forthcoming. He did say he believed that this was the case. So, we are very hopeful about this," Kapur had told IANS on the sidelines of the International Film Festival of India in November.