Imtiaz Ali reacts to calls for Main Vaapas Aaunga to be tax-free in Punjab

Calls to make Main Vaapas Aaunga tax-free in Punjab have found support from director Imtiaz Ali. The filmmaker said the demand is worth considering and that the team would be looking into the possibility.

In Short

• Imtiaz Ali reacted to fan requests for making Main Vaapas Aunga tax-free in Punjab
• Ali said any exemption would require a formal state-level process
• The film stars Naseeruddin Shah, Diljit Dosanjh, Sharvari and Vedang in key roles

As Main Vaapas Aaunga continues to witness a strong box-office resurgence driven by positive word-of-mouth, director Imtiaz Ali has responded to growing calls for the film to be made tax-free in Punjab. The period drama, starring Naseeruddin Shah, Diljit Dosanjh, Sharvari and Vedang Raina, not only tells a poignant love story but also revisits the human cost of Partition and its impact on Punjab.

In a conversation with Hindustan Times, when the 55-year-old director was asked if the film should be granted tax-free status, particularly in Punjab, Imtiaz said the demand was worth considering.

"A lot of people have said that this is a story of Punjab, a story of India and also in a way of Bengal and other parts. If people feel that genuinely and if that comment of national interest is out, then there must be a process in these states to see if the film can be made tax-free and we would be looking into it,” he said.

Although Main Vaapas Aaunga explores the horrors and lasting impact of Partition, the story unfolds through the deeply personal lens of Keenu, played by Vedang Raina. Imtiaz Ali revealed that this was always the film's intended approach.

"I wanted to tell this story from the very narrow point of view of one romantic individual, Keenu. What he remembers, what he was thinking when he crossed the border, and what drove him to return in search of his love — I wanted the audience to experience everything through his eyes. Every moment in the film has been shaped by that perspective," the filmmaker said.

Starring Diljit Dosanjh, Naseeruddin Shah, Vedang Raina and Sharvari, Main Vaapas Aaunga had a modest start at the box office after its release on June 12.

Notably, Main Vaapas Aaunga has managed to sustain and grow its momentum despite facing competition from the newly released Cocktail 2. With positive word of mouth continuing to drive footfall, the film now appears set for a strong second weekend at the box office.

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