Even actors are artists-Amrita Rao

The Bombay High Court's judgement to uphold fashion designer Tarun Tahiliani's case has certainly got the actors talking. The court has dubbed Tarun as an artist after he contested the Income Tax department's appeal of taxing him on his income on foreign assignments citing Section 80RR. The Section states that Indian authors, playwrights, artists, musicians, sportsmen and actors who receive income from foreign countries can get 75 per cent of their total income exempted from tax. Tarun had earned over Rs80 lakh in 2000 from foreign countries. Actors also fall into the 'artist' category and thus want to be treated the same way as the designer. Harsha Bhogle and Shah Rukh Khan already have pending cases as they too have walked Tarun's path.


Actor Amrita Rao says, "I welcome this decision. We actors are artists engaged in one of the highest forms of creativity. Actors also should be seen in the same light as Tarun as we are no less artists than him."