Bollywood's Downfall Sparks Political Firestorm

India's movie industry is embroiled in a fiery political controversy as Bollywood's fortunes decline in the age of streaming. Opposition politician and wife of screen legend Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, has charged the government with ignoring the industry. In a recent parliamentary debate, she berated Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for failing to offer tax incentives to prop up the struggling industry. Bachchan mentioned single-screen theatre shutdowns and increased expenses as the reasons people were being pushed away. Sitharaman defended the government's position, noting that entertainment tax is now included under GST. The confrontation highlights the difficulties Bollywood has in adjusting to evolving audience behaviors and financial strains.