TOI: Actors react to 12.5% tax - Hiten/Ankita

Actors across the television industry are unhappy with the Indian government's decision to impose a 12.5% service tax on actors.

For those unaware, Bollywood and TV actors will from this month (July 2012) will have to pay a service tax from the money they receive, including their acting fees and endorsement money. This percentage will be apart from the income tax they already pay. Here are some reactions from TV actors who express their angst at this decision.

Karan Wahi, "I should quit acting I think and go tell the government my decision. This is the stupidest thing I have heard. We are like any working professionals! How much do we earn and how much do we save? It's very debatable. As an actor, I may have work today. But what about the times when I don't have work? When we discuss our pay with producers and directors, they are not interested in how much tax we pay. This is really unfair to us".

Ankita Lokhande, "I've just got to know about this. I've heard production houses will bear the cost. I'm not sure what exactly this is but I have been getting a lot of messages. If this is true, we will get looted! Half our salary will go in tax. I will definitely take a stand. People think actors get paid so much, but what about small actors who are hardly paid any money on a daily basis. How will they afford this?"

Barun Sobti, "I can't believe it. This is too much money going out of our pockets. We have no proper roads or infrastructure. It's really unfair. The fact is, in the long run, TV actors do not make so much money as people think. In other professions, people are constantly peaking in their careers. For us as actors, we have our prime time".

Rati Pandey, "I think it's very unfair. We television actors don't even earn so much to pay such heavy taxes. Gone are the days when televisions actors were paid huge amounts. In fact nowadays actors are available on a meager fee of Rs 3 to 4 thousand per day. It's a myth that we earn huge sums and I believe an actor's life is very insecure. We don't even know that what will happen tomorrow, if we will we get work if our current show shuts down. Nowadays actors don't make hit shows; it's the concept that works. We are surviving in the midst o f cut throat competition and we have so many other things to spend on. I think it is just not fair and the government should do something."

Hiten Tejwani, "This is too much. Absolutely ridiculous. Sometimes we have work, sometimes we don't! We actors should take a stand and approach CINTA who should take up this issue. We are like any other professionals. Not all actors are working continuously. When we don't have work, we survive on our savings. Ultimately, actors will hike up their fees and the producers will have to bear the cost. When we are not working, the government should support us if we are expected to pay such a high percentage of tax. I will definitely support actors if they decide to take a stand against this".

Is this decision by the government really fair?