New Delhi [India], February 12 (ANI): Rajya Sabha MP Jaya Bachchan on Thursday interjected during Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s reply to the Budget discussion on the entertainment industry, calling her “a great storyteller” while raising concerns about taxation and rising movie ticket prices.
“You have given very good answers. You are a great storyteller. For us, great entertainment. I am talking about the entertainment industry and ticket prices. We are the highest tax-paying industry,” Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan said in the Rajya Sabha.
Responding to her concerns, Sitharaman said entertainment tax and ticket pricing fall under the jurisdiction of state governments, not the central government.
“On the specific question that she raised, that the industry is suffering because the ticket prices are too high, I must submit that entertainment tax and ticketing are state subjects. No point in asking me,” she said.
Bachchan’s remarks came as Sitharaman was responding to her question about whether the Union Budget 2026 includes provisions for the entertainment sector.
Refuting the claim that the industry had been overlooked, the finance minister said the Budget has given “sustained attention” to the sector, emphasizing measures to support the skilling of content creators, animators, and visual artists.
“Sustained attention has been given. The Budget recognizes the animation, visual effects, and content creation economy as a growth engine. As a result, support has been announced. The Indian Institute of Creative Technologies will help in skilling and establishing content-creator labs in 1,500 schools across the country. Two million professionals will be created by 2030. Content creation is a highly skilled sector,” she said.
She also said new branches of the National Institute of Design are being announced to address skill shortages in areas such as design, costumes, sets, and visual aesthetics.
Highlighting industry engagement, Sitharaman referred to the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit 2025 held in Mumbai.
“We held WAVES 2025. It was a global industry platform. Over 90 countries participated. More than 10,000 delegates attended. Thousands of creators were present. More than 300 companies participated. Are these not efforts toward the entertainment industry?” she said. (ANI)
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