Jaya Bachchan and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman have been having a heated discussion in the Rajya Sabha during the Union Budget 2025-26. The actress had requested her to have some mercy on the film indutry. She said, “One industry has been totally ignored by you, and other governments were also doing the same thing. But today you have taken it to the next level. You have totally ignored the film and entertainment industry because you only use them for serving your own purpose. Today, leave aside GST, all the single screens (theatres) are shutting down. People are not going to movie halls because everything has become so costly. Perhaps you want to kill this industry altogether. This is the only industry that connects the entire world to India”
She further told her that she has targeted cinema and that she’s trying to kill the industry. Reacting to Jaya Bachchan’s statments, Nirmala Sitharaman has shared a video in her tweet has said, “Jaya Ji has alleged that the Film Industry hasn’t been supported by the government. However, she will well remember Hon’ble MP (LS) Smt Kangana Ranaut” She added in the video, “There is no entertainment tax levied by the Union Government. It was previously levied by state governments and has now been subsumed under GST. State governments can still make laws on entertainment tax, as it remains a state subject.”
She further added, “Hridaynath Mangeshkar, Lata Mangeshkar Ji’s brother, got fired from All India Radio because his composition didn’t sit well with the Congress party. Also, Majrooh Sultanpuri was jailed. Dev Anand was threatened for not supporting the Emergency. Kishore Kumar was also pulled off air. What happened to Dev Anand, Kishore Kumar during the Emergency? Why was Jaya ji silent when Kangana’s house was being demolished?'”
Kangana reacted to Nirmala Sitharaman statement and expressed gratitude, “Thank you honourable @nsitharaman ji for highlighting all the support and encouragement film industry getting from our government also as a woman you highlighted my struggles, how my constitutional rights were crushed by the arrogant political parties. Thanks a lot.”
On work front, Kangana was last seen in ‘Emergency’ where she played the role of Indira Gandhi.