How much more tax? Sonam Kapoor says the government is 'corrupt'

The government's decision to levy 12 percent service tax on film and TV actors has left many fuming. While veteran actress Hema Malini feels it would burden producers further, actor Arshad Warsi believes it would leave many actors jobless and Sonam Kapoor says the government is "corrupt".

Many feel it's time the government stopped harrassing actors.

"This move is going to encourage a parallel economy. Artists take cheques, there is no black money or cash. Now they will want to take cash. It will become a burden on the producers. As it is the government does not help film industry and now this will become a problem, " Hema told.

The government announced plans to levy the tax on actors' acting as well as endorsement assignments, starting Sunday. It will be in an addition to the income tax they pay.

Vipul Shah, who produced "Singh Is Kinng" and "Force", is worried about the producers' woes. 

"It is a terrible decision. They have the left the producers with nothing. Maybe they are under the myth that the film industry has lot of money and so decided to put a tax on it. The ticket rates don't have any service tax, so ultimately it is the producers who pay it from their pockets, " Shah told. 

He says the decision will have a direct impact on producers of small budgets films. 

"More films will lose its money in the coming days. Just imagine about the small budget films and other regional films... how do they pay service tax on every technician? I hope they realise that its a wrong decision, " the producer added. 

Actors are dejected by the move.

"With this service tax, there will be some more jobless actors... Blame it on the tax?

Very soon all actors' payment will go directly to the government and they will start giving us the little per cent that is left for us as salary, Arshad tweeted Monday.

Terming the decision as "ridiculous", Divya Dutta tweeted: "'They' have no idea how some of the actors survive in this tough terrain of our profession. We are as much employed professionals as any in any field.

"I strongly appeal every one of our faculty to stand 'tall' against the implementation of such injustice. Please spread the word." 

Divya believes this development will impact the strugglers more than it would affect the established stars.

"That tax thing is okay for those who (are) doing well, but for those who (are) struggling, not a good news to pay more, " she added. 

Choreographer-filmmaker Farah Khan, who is set to make her acting debut with "Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi", is disappointed. 

"And just as I've turned 'actress', the government has decided to also charge 12.5 per cent service tax to all actors! This is too much. Kitna nichodogey yaar (How much will you squeeze us)?" posted Farah.

Calling the government "corrupt", actress Sonam said: "We are just filling every politicians pockets with money. If my money really went into developing my country I'd be more than happy to give it."

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Sonia Gandhi has invited Esha, Bharat: Hema Malini

Hema Malini had invited Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi for her daughter Esha's wedding with Bharat Takhtani. She says that the two couldn't come due to security reasons and that the latter has invited the newly wed couple at her residence.

"We had invited PM and Sonia Gandhi for the wedding. They couldn't come for security reasons. If it would have been in Delhi, they would have made it. It's a sweet gesture from Sonia Gandhi that she has sent Esha and Bharat an invite that whenever they are in Delhi, they should go to her place for lunch or dinner, " the actress told.

A memeber of Bharatiya Janata Party, Bollywood's Dream Girl was a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha 2003-2009.

Esha and Bharat had a traditional south Indian wedding at Iskcon Temple in Juhu Friday, which saw Bollywood big wigs like Amitabh Bachchan and his son Abhishek, Rani Mukerji, Ramesh Sippy and top notch Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders attending the ceremony.

From Raj Purohit, Mumbai chief of the BJP, to party president Nitin Gadkari to national vice president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi - all were seen there.

The wedding reception Saturday saw political figures like Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani and senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj, former Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray attending.

Bollywood celebrities Jeetendra, his son Tusshar Kapoor, Kajol, Fardeen Khan and Vidya Balan also came for the reception to wish the newly wed couple.

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Hema and Esha unite style at Lakme Fashion Week

Bollywood actresses Hema Malini and Esha deol raised the mercury on the third day Friday of the ongoing Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) Winter/Festive 2011 when the mother-daughter duo strutted down the ramp in creations designed by Shyamal and Bhumika.



While Hema was wearing a maroon saree with part velvet, part brocade layers, daughter Esha sported a highly-embellished lehenga choli of the same colour. "I have never worn such a lovely saree. It looks like Kanjivaram but it`s lighter with hand woven brocade work. The idea was to canvas the golden era," Hema, 62, told reporters after the show. The designers were elated to have the mother-daughter duo for the show.



"It`s amazing to have Esha and Hemaji here to showcase the line. Esha is wearing a silk velvet ghagra and it has heavy zardosi hand embroidery. We specialise in hand embroidery, that`s what Shyamal and Bhumika are known for. We have done lots of hand works with contrasting colours; that`s our forte," Bhumika said.



The collection was inspired by the age-old Jamaas, Chogaas, Peshwas, Achkans and Kaidar Lehengas of the 17th century. The lines include some streamline sherwanee jackets teamed with gorgeous skirts sensuous cholas worn over avant grade Kalidaar lehengaas, floor sweeping Anarkalees, elongated yokes and kurtees. Jewel-toned colours like ruby wine, sunlight cream, nile blue, honey gold, aurora red, burnt orange, pale gold, lilac rose, peacock green were predominant in the collection.

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Esha Deol changing gears in her career

Esha Deol is making the necessary corrections in her career. The actress is sad that she chose films in the past that never helped her to any advantage.

Recovering from this introspection, Esha is focusing all her energies on her upcoming film TELL ME OH KHUDA, that is her home production. Esha feels that the film has everything that she needs to establish her firm foothold in Bollywood. The actress says, “I have wisened up and I, as an actor or producer, will only take up films that has some good content.”

According to close sources, mom Hema Malini is ready to go to any extent to make this film work in Esha’s favour. Though Esha has done big films in the past, the most remembered being her sexy act in DHOOM, but it seems success still loves to elude her.

Now, with Esha banking on her home production to find some firm ground in Bollywood, let’s hope this gamble pays off for her.

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Ahana Deol: Dharmendra and Hema Malini’s daughter enter in bollywood

After Esha Deol, looks like it’s the turn of the younger sister Ahana to taste the waters of the tinsel pool. There is a strong buzz that Dharmendra and Hema Malini’s youngest daughter Ahana Deol is now ready to make her Bollywood debut as an actress.

She, therefore, gets set to follow the footsteps of her elder sister Esha who had debuted in 2002 with ‘Koi Mere Dil Se Pooche’ but thereafter got lost in the valleys of mediocrity. Ahana, however, was not inclined towards acting.

She had opened her designer clothing last year and had also contemplated going behind the camera for film direction. But her directorial debut never transpired and now she is ready to roll on to the red carpet as a newbie actress. Reportedly, Ahana is slated to star in Vikramaditya Motwane’s next film which is yet untitled. Motwane had earlier made the critically acclaimed film ‘Udaan’ and he has confirmed Ahana’s presence in his film. However, a shy Ahana hasn’t yet come under the spotlight and keeping herself concealed behind the shadows of anonymity.

With the blood of famed Dharam paaji and Hema in her veins, she, surely, has got all the makings of being a super star. We wish her all the best as she embarks onto beginning a fresh career in the B-town.

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Hema Malini to direct Dharmendra and Esha in next flick

Actress Hema Malini will reportedly wield the mike again for an upcoming film that hits theaters early next year. According to reports from Bollywood, the actress will return to direction after a span of eighteen years with her husband Dharmendra and daughter Esha Deol as stars of the upcoming Bollywood film. In a statement to the media, Hema Malini says that she had a very nice time shouting directions at her hubby and daughter.

Considering that Dharmendra is known for his angry image, did he work according to Hema Malini’s directions? The actress turned director says that Dharmendra did object to her methods of direction initially, but since Hema Malini was strict about what she wanted from her actors, he too was bound to listen to her!Hema Malini makes it clear that she has returned to direction only for her daughter Esha Deol, who unfortunately cannot boast of a real career in Bollywood! But mommy dearest is hopeful that her second directorial venture Tell Me Oh Khuda with Esha Deol will be liked by the masses.

Hema Malini says that she shared a wonderful relationship with her daughter on the film’s sets and she loved the fact that Esha Deol always made it a point to take her advice before and after each shot. Tell Me Oh Khuda will hit theaters in March next year. Hema Malini’s first film as a director was the Shahrukh Khan and Divya Bharati starrer Dil Aashna Hai, which was one of the first hits of superhit actor Shahrukh Khan.

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