Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Mumbai Entertainment Tax Proposal Could Raise Movie Ticket Prices
Mumbai’s civic body, called the BMC, wants to raise a tax charged on some entertainment tickets.
The tax could rise from Rs 60 to Rs 400 per ticket.
That would be a very large increase of 570 percent.
The tax applies to movie screenings and some plays and concerts.
Shows in languages other than Marathi and Gujarati are included in the proposal.
Theatres and cinema operators officially pay the tax to the civic body.
However, they may add the cost to ticket prices for customers.
The tax was created in 1969 and has not been changed since then.
The BMC has proposed a Rs 400 increase in Mumbai’s per-ticket entertainment tax, from Rs 60.
The proposed change would amount to a 570% increase in the entertainment tax rate.
Air-conditioned cinema halls and multiplexes could see higher ticket prices if the proposal is approved.
The proposal covers movies, plays and concerts in languages other than Marathi and Gujarati.
The tax was introduced in 1969 and has not been revised since; the latest proposal was tabled in the BMC law committee on Tuesday.
- Who
- The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation proposed the tax increase; cinema exhibitors and performing-arts theatre managers pay the tax.
- What
- A proposal would raise the per-ticket entertainment tax from Rs 60 to Rs 400, potentially increasing ticket prices.
- When
- The proposal was tabled in the BMC law committee on Tuesday; the tax rates have been unchanged since 1969.
- Where
- Mumbai.
- Why
- The BMC says the rates have not been revised since the entertainment tax was introduced in 1969.
- Proposed tax
- Rs 400 per ticket
- Earlier tax
- Rs 60 per ticket
- Proposed increase
- 570%
- Potentially affected venues
- Air-conditioned cinema halls and multiplexes
- Affected entertainment
- Movies, plays and concerts in languages other than Marathi and Gujarati
- Tax payers
- Cinema exhibitors and performing-arts theatre managers
- Last revision
- The rates have not been revised since 1969
- Current status
- The proposal was tabled in the BMC law committee