Mumbai, India – The Cine and TV Artistes Association (CINTAA), a prominent body representing Indian film and television artistes, is embroiled in a significant internal crisis following the mass resignation of 11 out of its 21 Executive Committee members. This unprecedented exodus has plunged the association into turmoil, sparking a contentious debate over its legitimate leadership and the necessity of immediate fresh elections.
At the heart of the controversy is CINTAA General Secretary, Upasana Singh, who has unequivocally declared the Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) called in the wake of the resignations as “illegal.” Singh asserts that the atmosphere within the committee has been “very bad” for over two years, a situation that culminated in the recent resignations.
According to Singh, tensions have been simmering since the current committee took office. “This has been going on for the past two to two-and-a-half years, since we have been here. Since then, we have been going through a lot of trouble. Many people have resigned in between because of the tensions within the committee, and there was a very bad atmosphere,” Upasana revealed to Hindustan Times.
A significant point of contention, as per Singh, revolves around the handling of disciplinary actions against artistes. She alleges that the committee’s approach to issuing show-cause notices, suspensions, and terminations has been a major source of concern. “By giving show-cause notices to anyone, they have started firing actors, and sometimes they suspend someone,” she stated, emphasizing that CINTAA’s primary role is to serve its members, not to penalize them. “CINTAA is an association of artists. It is their home. They are not there to fire them, cancel their work or suspend them.”
Singh painted a picture of a deeply fractured committee, indicating a clear division into two opposing factions. “There are two groups there, some people who want to work for the actors and want their well-being,” she elaborated, suggesting a fundamental disagreement over the association’s core responsibilities.
Eleven Members Resign, Sparking Constitutional Crisis
The internal strife reached a critical juncture with the collective resignation of 11 members from the 21-member Executive Committee. Upasana Singh highlighted that these resignations were a result of prolonged frustration. “We are an association of 21 members. That is why 11 people, after getting very tired, have resigned together.”
Crucially, Singh argues that these resignations trigger a specific constitutional clause within CINTAA. “Our constitution says that if more than half of the people resign, or even 50% resign, then our committee breaks down and re-election is announced. This is our constitution,” she affirmed, further stating that she, in her capacity as General Secretary, has formally accepted these resignations.
Dispute Over Validity of EGM and Proposed Amendments
The validity of the Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) called after the mass resignations is another major point of contention. Upasana Singh vehemently questions how an EGM can be organized when, in her view, the Executive Committee has already ceased to exist. “Despite that, they went to CINTAA and held an illegal meeting. After that, they announced an EGM, which is going to happen today at 5–5:30,” she stated, raising serious doubts about the legitimacy of the proceedings.
Adding to her concerns, Singh alleges that the proposed EGM aims to enact sweeping changes to CINTAA’s foundational document. “They have put up around 90 pages because they want to make changes to the entire constitution,” she claimed, indicating a potentially radical restructuring of the association.
Upasana Challenges General Secretary Appointment
In a further twist, Upasana Singh has challenged the designation of Padmini Kolhapure as General Secretary, asserting that she herself remains in the position as she has never tendered her resignation. “They have written the name of Padmini Kolhapure as the General Secretary. But I have not even resigned. Padmini Kolhapure is not the General Secretary. I am the General Secretary,” Singh firmly declared.
She also raised questions about the proposed composition of the new committee, alleging that individuals who had previously resigned or were unsuccessful in past elections are being considered for positions. “Deepak Parashar had resigned as Treasurer, so they wrote Hetal Parmar. But Hetal Parmar has already resigned. In this way, the people who have lost the election are being used and they are saying that they will be the committee members,” she added.
Federation Approached for Fair Elections
Emphasizing her stance that an EGM cannot legally proceed without the Executive Committee and the General Secretary’s approval, Upasana Singh has escalated the matter to CINTAA’s federation, which she describes as the association’s “mother body.” “We have asked the federation, our mother body, to have a fair election,” she said, calling for an impartial process to resolve the leadership vacuum.
Members Allegedly Fear Disciplinary Action
The ongoing dispute, according to Singh, has instilled fear among some CINTAA members. She claims that artistes have privately expressed concerns about approaching the association, fearing potential disciplinary action against their membership. “Some people used to call me and say, ‘Upasana ji, I am also afraid of coming to CINTAA because somewhere our card might be cancelled’,” she concluded, highlighting a growing climate of apprehension within the organization.
CINTAA, the Cine & TV Artistes’ Association, is a vital Indian organization dedicated to safeguarding the rights, welfare, and professional interests of actors and artistes in the film and television industry. It addresses critical issues such as employment disputes, contracts, payments, working conditions, and disciplinary matters. This current internal dispute threatens to destabilize an organization with a long and significant history in the Indian entertainment industry, based in Mumbai.