Scoops: Jacqueline Fernandez sends out Christmas goodies, Vanity vans strike ends and more..

Jacqueline Fernandez (left); and The actress’ festive surprise for her friends

Jacqueline Fernandez is one of the most thoughtful actresses in B-Town. For years on end, she has been sending out a special something (mostly an eco-friendly plant in Christmas colours of green with red flowers) or alternatively a nice plum cake to all her friends in the industry. And since Jackie herself believes in celebrating this festival with her family she makes it a point to send out her Christmas sapling or cookies well in advance.

Sonam K Ahuja stepping outside her van (left); and Salman Khan poses outsite a vanity van at a studio 

Association hopes meetings with the State Finance Minister and Transport Minister will help ease their burden 

Within three days of the announcement of an indefinite strike by All Camper Van Owner’s Association, which provides vanity vans for B-Town celebrities and film production, it has been called off. This was the members’ way of protesting against the state government for charging ‘exorbitant Rs 1,25,000 per van annually’. 

However, with several A-list stars like Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan, John Abraham having films under production currently, we hear the association decided to end their protest, albeit for now. Ketan Rawal, president of the association reveals, “We called off the strike after State Transport Minister, Vijay Deshmukh, assured us that they will look into our grievance and decide on it by January 15. Moreover, even the film industry guild and affiliated associations requested us. So, on the basis of these factors, we decided to end our strike.”  

He says that all over India, vans are charged Rs 12,500 each as annual taxes. “But, for the same van, Maha Govt is charging 10 times the tax, Rs 1,25,000. And if that’s not bad enough, only this government taxes camper vans at per square meter.” 

Interestingly, in the pre-GST era, vanity vans were certified under the ‘Rent-A-Cab’ category and were required to pay their service taxes accordingly. “Even the RTO permit calls vans as ‘Rent-a-Cab’. That time, we had service tax, which we paid as per the category. Now under GST, we’re no longer ‘Rent-a-Cab’, but ‘Tangible Goods’,” he says adding, “Moreover, we are also being told to pay for the last five years according to ‘Tangible Goods.’ When we informed the authorities that the last five years, we charged our clientele the service tax as per the category allotted to us, we are told that it’s not the department’s fault but ours and we have to pay the appropriate penalty.” 

He says that by way of this correction by the department, each vanity van owner is shown a liability of Rs 2-3 crores of the last five years. He adds, “The department is saying that tax was paid under the wrong category and the correction has to be done because it’s our fault.” 

So, the ‘new unreasonably high taxes’ and last five years’ penalties because of ‘Rent-A-Cab’ catergorisation by the authorities before GST came into effect are the two major issues the association is fighting against. Rawal sums it up, “On December 19, we will meet Sudhir Mungantiwar, the State Finance Minister in Mumbai and discuss our predicament because taxes come under his department. We’re hoping for the best. After this meeting, we’ll decide on our next course of action. Also, as assured by Minister Vijay Deshmukh, they will decide on the categorisation and our grievances by January 15. So we’re biding our time for now.”

by Hiren Kotwani

(Clockwise from left) A still from Zero; Zeeshan Ayyub; Tigmanshu Dhulia; Sheeba Chaddha

Aanand L Rai is known for presenting not only a strong lead cast, but also treating the audience with remarkable performances by supporting actors in most of his movies. Staying true to tradition, his ambitious project, Zero, offers a talented ensemble with Zeeshan Ayyub, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Sheeba Chaddha, Brijendra Kala and Mallika Dua.

Zeeshan, who plays Shah Rukh Khan’s friend in the film, is seen in a pivotal role. This marks the actor’s third collaboration with Aanand after Raanjhanaa (2013) and Tanu Weds Manu Returns (2015). Tigmanshu has given glimpses of his impressive performance as King Khan aka Bauua Singh’s father in the trailer. Sheeba, meanwhile, plays Bauua’s mother, who protects her son from her husband’s harsh scoldings. Having impressed the audience with his performances in PK (2014), Rustom (2016) and Shubh Mangal Saavdhan (2017), Brijendra will essay an interesting character even in this movie. Apart from that, digital sensation Mallika Dua will also be seen on screen after Hindi Medium (2017).

Zero, which is one of the most-anticipated movies of this year, stars SRK as the vertically-challenged Bauua, Anushka as Aafia Bhinder, a scientist battling cerebral palsy and Katrina as actress Babita Kumari. 

Red Chillies Entertainment and Colour Yellow Productions come together to bring Zero. Produced by Gauri Khan, starring Anushka Sharma, Katrina Kaif and Shah Rukh Khan, the Aanand L Rai directorial releases on December 21.

Ayushmann Khurrana was surprised to find a huge number of fans who had turned up at the hotel in Agra where he had checked in for the shoot of his next, Dream Girl. Riding high on the success of both his releases this year, AndhaDhun and Badhaai Ho, he is soaking in all the love and affection he’s being showered by cinegoers. 

We hear that actor was so overwhelmed to hear that his admirers wanted to meet him that he not only posed for pictures with them, but also interacted with them in the hotel lobby. “Ayushmann wanted to give his fans a memory to take with them. He cherishes their feedback and he loves to meet them in person whenever he gets a chance. Besides, he also stays in constant touch with them on social media.”