Give industry status to Indian film industry: Hema Malini

NEW DELHI: The Indian film industry should be granted "industry status", actress-politician Hema Malini said today.

The Bollywood actress, who represents Mathura in Uttar Pradesh in the Lok Sabha, suggested that "Government should give the film industry the status of industry."

She also said that social security should be provided to those working behind the camera so that they can live their lives with dignity.

"Bollywood is doing good and the people are appreciating it. The government also earns a lot of revenue from Bollywood. Bollywood actors and actresses are among the highest taxpayers," Malini, popularly called the 'Dreamgirl', said while participating in the discussion on the Finance Bill.

Malini also pressed the government for not levying taxes on performing artists.

"These performing artists have made performing arts famous worldwide. And I request the government not to levy taxes on these artists," she said, adding art for them was their 'sadhna' (spiritual practice).

Asserting that performing artists were the ambassadors who were spreading India's diverse culture to the world, she said there was no support provided to them by the government.