Maninderjeet Singh Bitta, chairman of the All India Anti-Terrorist Front (AIATF), is planning to make Akshay Kumar's action romantic film "Holiday- A Soldier Is Never Off Duty" tax free.
Bitta saw the film at a recent screening and got impressed by the storyline which shows Indian army in a positive light. After watching the film, Bitta told The Times of India that he would write a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking tax exemption for the action drama.
Bitta, who is also a social worker, lost his legs in terrorist attack in Amritsar in 1992. After the screening, he got emotional and said that he can relate himself to the film.
"If someone like me can get emotional and feel ki desh ke liye kuch karna chahiye, I am sure it will trigger a similar reaction in the youth as well," he told TOI.
"As a nation, we get demoralised when we see how the political system works. So, it feels great to see a movie that talks about eliminating terrorism. It shows how an army officer rises above his call of duty for the country," he said, appreciating the storyline.
The co-producer of the film Vipul Shah was happy with the news that Bitta will seek for tax exemption.
"With someone like Bittaji getting emotional, I feel Holiday... has reached somewhere. If it is declared tax-free, and everyone, irrespective of whether he wears a uniform or not, loves it, we'll achieve our purpose," he said.
Previously, Salman Khan's "Jai Ho" and Farhan Akhtar's "Bhaag Milkha Bhaag" were given tax exemption which benefited the collections of the film. Both the films managed to cross the ₹100 crore mark due to tax free status in several states.
If the film is declared tax free, then the ticket prices of it will fall and would attract more number of people towards it. This would eventually boost up the collection of the film at the box office.
The film is expected to have a flying start on day one, as it is Kumar's first film of 2014 and also his last two releases "Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai Dobara" and "Boss" failed to entertain the audiences.
The film also features Sonakshi Sinha in the lead role. Kumar-Sinha have previously worked in films like "Rowdy Rathore" and "Joker." "Rowdy Rathore" was declared the blockbuster film of 2012 and also the chemistry between the lead pair was appreciated.
Meanwhile, "Holiday" is set to release worldwide on 6 June. The film is directed by AR Murugadoss who has given hit films including "Ghajini" (Hindi and Tamil versions) and Tamil film "Thuppakki" among others.
Check out the trailer of "Holiday" here:
