Rajasthan, MP, Chhattisgarh & Puducherry Make ‘Chhapaak’ Tax-Free

Deepika Padukone’s Chhapaak is tax-free in these states.

Deepika Padukone and Laxmi at the title track launch for Chhapaak.

(Photo Courtesy: Yogen Shah)

After Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Puducherry, it was Rajasthan’s turn to declare Deepika Padukone-starrer Chhapaak tax-free on Thursday. The film, directed by Meghna Gulzar, which releases on Friday is inspired by the real life story of an acid-attack survivor.

We are happy to declare <i>Chhapaak</i> a tax-free film. People have welcomed the decision of exempting this film from the tax bracket. The film shall be an eye opener.&nbsp;

Ashok Gehlot, Chief Minister of Rajasthan

Both the Chief Ministers of Madhya Pradhesh and Chhattisgarh, Kamal Nath and Bhupesh Baghel, made the announcement on Twitter and praised Chhapaak for the subject it tackles.

After Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, the CM of Puducherry, V Narayanasamy also announced giving Chhapaak a tax-free status.

However, with Deepika Padukone having gone to JNU and shown her solidarity with the students who were assaulted in the campus on Sunday, the release of the film has now become politicised and the BJP has criticised the move to make Chhapaak tax-free.

According to a report in IANS, a BJP spokesperson said, "Kamal Nath ji is never tired of blaming Modi for not releasing money or Shivraj ji for his legacy of an empty treasury as an excuse for his inability to waive farmers' debt in the state or checking of unemployment! However, the moment Deepika Padukone joined the traitors against Modi he decided to exempt all her films. Kamal Nath ji should let the people of Madhya Pradesh know whether bread for the farmer is more important or butter chicken and vodka for Deepika's home?"

With several BJP leaders having also called for a boycott of the film, all eyes are now on the box-office numbers of the Deepika Padukone film, which is receiving a good pre-release buzz from previews and press screenings.

(with inputs from IANS)