IANS/Chennai

Leading film personalities including actors, directors and cinema owners are on a hunger strike against the imposition of service tax.

They said the move will induce tax evasion and create black money, and demanded the tax be scrapped.

Tamil superstar Rajinikanth too joined the day-long hunger strike yesterday.

A certain section of the showbiz industry, including producers, exhibitors and distributors, has been exempted from paying the tax.

Now members belonging to various film industry associations are on a hunger strike demanding that actors, producers and choreographers too be exempt from 12.36% service tax.

“The government is coming out with several schemes to bring out the black money. If taxes are increased, then black money would flourish. There should be a strong law to punish tax evaders,” Rajinikanth said.

Echoing similar views, actor Satyaraj said the government should focus on bringing back the unaccounted money stashed away.

According to actor Radha Ravi, the federal finance minister should consider their demand as he knows Tamil and the industry.

Referring to the 2014 general elections, Ravi said: “Only if the government meets our demand now can they meet us one-and-half-years later.”

“There is a common perception that film actors are affluent and lead a well-off life but that may not be the case. There have been times when many companies involved in showbiz industry end up paying Rs60 crore to Rs70 crore when the entire turnover is Rs25 crore,” R Sarathkumar, president of the South Indian Film Artistes Association, said.

“It is also difficult for small artists to pay because once you enter into an agreement, irrespective of whether the film or the serial is completed, you have to pay the service tax. Our demand is just like producers, exhibitors and theatre-owners - why can’t the entire industry be exempted from service tax,” he asked.

Besides Rajinikanth, other leading lights of the Tamil movie industry on hunger strike are  Vijay, Prabhu, Satyaraj, Bhagyaraj, Sarathkumar, Radhikaa Sarathkumar, director K S and Ravikumar.

Screening and shooting of films was cancelled yesterday.