MUMBAI: Top Hindi film actors and producers Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan today came together with the United Producers & Distributors' Forum to advocate for equal revenue share from national multiplex chains.

The two actors expressed their regret to the audience about the film industry's inability to release films and appealed to the single screens to bear with this issue and stand by the industry.

Leading the conference Aamir said, "There has to be a partnership of equals between the two parties and both have to work out their business with the 50 per cent share. It is essential for the multiplexes to understand that this is a volatile business, if you want a steady flow of money then this is not the place to be in."

Shah Rukh added, "This is not a fight about two per cent share, it is a fight for equality. We can earn that two per cent from anywhere if we wish to. We want 'Fair Rights for Friday Nights' and in the long run, it is the smaller films that will benefit most from this. So we plead to those filmmakers to please hold back so that we can get them a better share. This is not a strike, it is just some repair work in the system so kindly bear."

Some of the other points addressed at the press conference included various multiplex chains indulging in irregularities such as charging INR, service tax and entertainment tax despite exemptions and eliminations. To this Aamir said, "When Taare Zameen Par released, various multiplexes told me to not apply for tax exemption, but I still went ahead with it and I have noticed that some of them have still deducted tax in spite of it being exempted."

When queried about the feasibility of the performance linked revenue share model, UTV Software Communications chairman and managing director Ronnie Screwvala said, "A film's performance is very subjective. Our aim during a film's release is to up our box office share and not to increase the occupancy level at theatres."

Commenting on the term 'mafia' being used to slander the multiplexes publicly, Shah Rukh said, "We do not regard them as mafia." He further added, "We are living only because of the audience. We are...

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