Dhoni biopic set for tax-free release

RANCHI: The upcoming biopic on Indian limited overs' cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is set for a tax-free screening in his home state Jharkhand. The film is set for a nationwide release on September 30.
The state commercial tax department has moved a proposal to the state cabinet for waiver of entertainment tax keeping in mind the 'public sentiment' attached to its homegrown cricketing icon.
A major chunk of the movie, which stars Sushant Singh Rajput and Anupam Kher, had been filmed in Ranchi and parts of Jharkhand earlier this year.
Jugal Kishore, additional commissioner of the commercial tax department on Monday, said the proposal has been sent to the state cabinet for approval, following a request from the film's makers earlier this month.
The Sushant Singh Rajput-starrer has been jointly produced by Fox Star Studios and Dhoni co-owned Rhiti Sports Management.
"A movie is usually declared tax-free when it carries a positive message or showcases Jharkhand," Kishore said.
"Dhoni is a sporting icon in Jharkhand and is also an inspiration for many youth," he added. Cabinet approval is likely to be a mere formality, department sources said.
The entertainment tax waiver is good news for Ranchi's multiplex and single screens. They are expected to rake in anywhere between Rs 40,000 and Rs 1 lakh per week as extra earnings. According to the commercial tax department, movie theatres in smaller towns and semi-urban centres will save anywhere between Rs 25,000 and Rs 40,000.
The movie, touted as one of the biggest films of the year, has been shot in Ranchi and McCluskieganj and has some scenes shot in Dhoni's alma mater, Jawahar Vidya Mandir, Shyamali.
JVM Shyamli has already announced a holiday on the day of the film's release. Principal A K Singh said, "We plan to take schoolchildren to watch the movie on the first day. A committee will be formed after September 15 to work on the proposal".
Dhoni's biopic is the second Bollywood film to have been shot in Jharkhand. Ashu Trikha-directed 'Koylanchal' was shot entirely in the state last year.