When Bollywood took to streets to protest against heavy taxes in Maharashtra

Hollywood is currently going through an actor's strike which started earlier in July. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists is on the picket fence to protest against the film studios in demand of better work conditions. 

During the time period this strike goes on, actors who are part of the union are not allowed to film or promote any projects, according to the rules. While the American film industry is trying to maneuver through this crisis, we take a look back at the time when Bollywood actors went on strike but against the government. 

3 things you need to know 

• The Bollywood strike took place in October 1986. 
• In addition to the actors, directors, writers, technicians, lightmen, and editors from the entire film industry were also part of the strike. 
• They took to the streets against the Congress government in Maharashtra over the imposition of a heavy tax on the movie tickets. 

What caused the 1986 Bollywood strike? 

It all started with a tax imposition on the tickets of the films on behalf of the Government of Maharashtra. A coalition of the Theater Employees Union and All-India Film Producers Council announced a strike on October 10, 1986. 

Bollywood actors urged the state of Maharashtra to lower the 177% surcharge it imposed on movie tickets. They advocated the elimination of the 4% sales tax the state government imposes on the business of making movies and called for a war on rampant videotape piracy.

To assist the industry recover, the alliance, known as the Action Committee, also advocated for lower electricity prices and tax breaks for brand-new theaters.

Effects of actors' strike 

With the active involvement of top producers, directors, technicians, young performers, and studio staff, the protests gathered traction. Production companies were initially allowed to shoot movies outside of Maharashtra. Additionally, the film labs continued to operate. However, when the campaign gained momentum, the sector almost completely stopped.

(Bollywood actors on the street protesting against heavy taxes | Image: File Photos)

About 1,350 movie theaters across the state that employed 150,000 people were closed down by the strike, costing the state hundreds of thousands of dollars daily in lost taxes. Production on more than 200 films came to an end in Bombay, India's film hub, halting more than a hundred million in investments.

In the coming days, the initiative resonated with the nation's film community. The South Indian Film Chamber of Commerce offered the agitation its unequivocal backing. To show support for the Bombay film industry, businesses such as movie theaters, labs, recording studios, and distribution offices were closed on October 29th throughout India.

Industry put on a united front

The most obvious display of Bollywood’s togetherness came when the top names in the industry protested in Bombay on October 21. Stars like Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Vinod Khanna, Sunil Dutt, Sanjay Dutt, Dharmendra, Anil Kapoor, Rakesh Roshan, Smita Patil, Hema Malini, and others joined together for the protests at the Shivaji Park in Mumbai. 

Even more people ascended the platform, including Raj Kapoor, Mithun Chakraborty, Rajesh Khanna, Dilip Kumar, Raj Babbar, and Sunil Dutt, and delivered stirring speeches about their rights and the value of culture.

Action committee head Ramraj Nahta, senior actor-director Chandrashekhar, producer N.N. Sippy, and other influential members of the industry presented a memorandum to CM S.B. Chavan under Dutt's direction. Sixteen MLAs and three city MPs were part of the group.

Upon his return, Dutt reported that he had received a negative response. More marches took place in the days that followed, and at least two actors—character actor Jankidas and comedic actor Ravi Baswani—went on hunger strikes.

A few days later, an agreement was achieved after six hours of negotiations between Sunil Dutt and Amitabh Bachchan, who were both members of parliament at that time, and Maharashtra's then-chief minister S.B. Chavan.