Fatima Sana Shaikh has spoken out against the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) proposal to increase the local entertainment tax on air-conditioned cinema halls and multiplexes in Mumbai by 570 per cent. The actress questioned whether audiences would continue visiting theatres if the proposed hike pushes up the overall cost of a movie outing.
What did Fatima Sana Shaikh say about the proposed entertainment tax hike?
Speaking about the proposal at NDTV Yuva 2026, Fatima pointed to the already high cost of watching a film in theatres.“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,” the actress said. (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 noted that movie tickets can already cost around Rs 700-800, making a family outing to the cinema an expensive proposition once food and other expenses are added.
Fatima Sana Shaikh calls proposed tax hike ‘very classist’
Fatima also described the proposed increase as “very classist”, arguing that the rising cost of theatrical entertainment could make cinemas less accessible to sections of the audience.“It is also very classist, I must say, because single screens are over, so you have already alienated your audience.”The actress said that many people already feel intimidated by the environment at multiplexes because they believe they do not fit in. She argued that making theatrical viewing more expensive could further widen that gap.“There are a lot of people who find going to a theatre very intimidating because they feel they don’t fit there,” she said, adding that the proposed hike was “very sad”.Fatima also emphasised the wider cultural role of cinema, saying films can be an accessible way of reaching audiences and raising questions about morality and society.“The moment you make it expensive, you are taking it away from a lot of people,” she said.
Social media users back Fatima Sana Shaikh
Fatima’s comments also drew support from several social media users. One user wrote that her response was “very natural and accurate” and agreed with her concerns about the impact of the proposed tax hike on cinema halls in Maharashtra.Another user commented, “Finally someone who knows the reality.”
Fatima Sana Shaikh’s upcoming projects
Fatima was last seen in the OTT series ‘Hunkaar: The Roar’ in which she played a cop. She also has the web series ‘Teen Kauwe’ in the pipeline.