In post-GST era, Priyanka Chopra's banner likely to venture into films for digital media

Hindi film star Priyanka Chopra's production house Purple Pebble Pictures plans to venture into digital entertainment, says the banner's co-owner and the actress's mother Madhu Chopra, pointing out that it is the result of how the new goods and services tax (GST) affects the entertainment business.

The production house will be releasing a Marathi film, Kaay Re Rascalaa, shortly and has three more projects in the pipeline.

Asked if the newly implemented GST will affect their work, Madhu Chopra told the IANS news agency: "Yes, it is affecting the whole entertainment business. If ticket prices will go up, the footfalls of cine-goers will automatically go down. As a production house, though we have films lined up that are going on the floors and will be released in the coming months, I would say digital is the future.

"So yes, we will also venture into digital entertainment like webseries."

Prodded on the plans, Chopra said: "The talk is at an initial stage and it is too early to announce anything, but yes, we have an interest to get into that zone. High taxation on entertainment is quite unfair for our audiences, filmmakers and theatre owners.

"The regional film business is getting affected because there are local taxes and GST, so double taxes, right? Until we get more clarity on things, we might just slow down a little. Because, at the end of the day, filmmaking is a business."

The banner has produced the National award-winning film Ventilator (2016), Bhojpuri film Bam Bam Bol Raha Hai Kashi, Punjabi film Sarvann and Sikkimese film Pahuna.

Considering the fact that the production house aims to provide a platform for new talent and regional cinema, instead of going by popular Hindi culture, Chopra admits it is a risky affair, but a risk "worth taking".

"Well, our Marathi film is releasing. We finished shooting of our second Bhojpuri film, and that is planned for release in October, and our Sikkimese film will be released around Durga Puja. That apart, our Bengali film is going on the floors in August," she said.

The Marathi film Kaay Re Rascalaa will be released on 14 July. You can predict the film's box office performance here.