Actor Deepika Padukone’s latest film Chhapaak has been declared tax-free in Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh. The film is based on the real life story of acid-attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal.

MP chief minister Kamal Nath made the declaration on Twitter. “Deepika Padukone’s film on acid attack survivor, Chhapaak is releasing across the country on January 10. I declare it tax-free in Madhya Pradesh,” he wrote in a tweet. “This film which spreads a positive message regarding the treatment of acid-attack victims in the society, tells the story of their courage, struggle and their passion for life and aims to bring a change in the society’s mentality on the same,” he added.

Chhappak is directed by Meghna Gulzar and is releasing amid a storm of boycott calls from some sections. After Deepika paid a visit to Jawaharlal Nehru University to express solidarity with protesting students earlier this week, social media has been flooded with calls to boycott the actor and her film. A few BJP leaders are also asking ‘Hindus to boycott Deepika Padukone and her movie’.

However, many fans, other Bollywood celebs and political leaders are also voicing their support for Deepika and the film. Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on Wednesday said that any artist can go anywhere and put forth his or her view. “This is a democratic country, anyone, any artist can go anywhere and put forth his or her view,” said Javadekar while speaking to the reporters in Delhi.