Mahesh Babu’s AMB Under GST Radar: What’s Happening?
The tribunal found that the theatres had violated the anti-profiteering provisions by increasing the base ticket price to keep the final price unchanged instead of passing on the benefit of lower GST to consumers.
By: Tupaki Desk | 30 Jun 2026 11:02 AM IST
One of the most iconic cinema theatres in Hyderabad is currently in operation in the form of AMB Cinemas, which is co owned by Mahesh Babu. Now this cinema theatre has command with the negative attention and let us have a look into the story.
Mahesh Babu’s AMB Cinemas is among six Telangana cinema theatres directed by the Goods and Services Tax tribunal to deposit ₹1.7 crore into the Central and State Consumer Welfare Funds for failing to pass on the benefit of GST rate reductions to moviegoers.
The GST team held that the theatres retained the tax benefit instead of reducing ticket prices after GST rates on movie tickets were cut with effect from January 1, 2019. AMB Cinemas was directed to deposit about ₹35 lakh, while Vishwanath Cinema Hall in Hydernagar is to deposit ₹8.9 lakh.
The other theatres covered by the orders include ASR Cinema, G3 Srinivasa Cinemas, Asian Srinivasa Cineprime and Arjun Theatre. Together, the six orders require deposits of around ₹1.7 crore.
The tribunal found that the theatres had violated the anti-profiteering provisions by increasing the base ticket price to keep the final price unchanged instead of passing on the benefit of lower GST to consumers.
This is a very crucial step with regard to cinematic pricing as theatres had been facing several complaints in the recent past and thus apart could be rectified now.