CINTAA President Poonam Dhillon on Truth Behind Mudslinging Row

Mumbai: The ongoing controversy within the Cine and TV Artistes’ Association (CINTAA) has escalated into a highly publicized, bitter feud between two prominent factions. The clash involves Poonam Dhillon (President) and Padmini Kolhapure (Senior Vice President) on one side, and a dissenting faction led by Upasana Singh (General Secretary) along with actress Kunickaa Sadanand and the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) on the other.

In an exclusive interview with Deccan Chronicle, Poonam Dhillon, President,Padmini Kolahpure, Tina Ghai, C.P. Thakur, and other EC Members break their silence over the mudslinging and various claims and narratives surrounding the association. 

There has been a lot of public mudslinging and controversy surrounding CINTAA- What would you like to say about the current situation?

Poonam Dhillon: First of all, we are genuinely shocked, disappointed and saddened by the way people who were working with us just a few months ago have behaved in the manner they did. We were a team, and it is extremely hurtful to see things being discussed in such a manner publicly. CINTAA does not represent just the 21 members of the Executive Committee. It represents nearly 9,000 actors across the film and television industries, from senior-most actors to newcomers. When such issues are discussed publicly in this manner, the entire CINTAA family gets embarrassed and degraded. That is what is most unfortunate.

There have been repeated allegations that you [Padmini Kolhapure]and Poonam Dhillon have misled people. How do you respond to that?

Padmini Kolhapure:  They keep saying that Padmini and Poonam have lied and that they have won the case. But they should understand that we are not acting in our individual capacities. We represent CINTAA. The good thing is that we have now received an important High Court order in our favour. The order has clarified several of the issues that have been raised against us. We are waiting to receive the physical copy of the order, as it was passed today.

Can you explain what the High Court order says about the upcoming elections?

C.P. Thakur:  I was present in court. The Honourable Court observed that the election is very close and there is also a Supreme Court ruling concerning elections that have already been initiated. Therefore, the court did not want to stop the election process midway. The elections can take place, but there is a pending suit concerning whether the Federation has the authority or jurisdiction to conduct CINTAA's elections. As I understand it, even if the winners are announced, they will not be able to take office until the court decides the matter.Our next court date is 26.10.2026

Does this mean that the election results will remain subject to the court's decision?

Poonam Dhillon: Yes. If the election goes ahead and winners are announced, they will still not be able to take office until the judgment on our suit is delivered. Our contention is very clear: the Federation does not have the jurisdiction to enter CINTAA and conduct or announce our elections.

What is your objection to the way the election process has been conducted?

Padmini and Thakur: The election process has been extremely haphazard and one-sided. There were people who had submitted their nominations but were not even sure whether their names appeared on the voting list. There was also an issue concerning the final list. It was stated in court that the final list had been declared on the 8th, but when nominated members asked for the list, it was not available even until the morning of the 9th.Later, we saw a document in a WhatsApp group that appeared to have been dated the 7th. We have emails and other records that contain the actual dates and timings. A typed document can be dated in any manner, but email records cannot simply be changed. We have preserved the relevant records and will place them before the court. We are confident about our legal position.

Some people have questioned how certain members were inducted into the Executive Committee. Can you clarify the process?

Poonam Dhillon: Our Constitution clearly provides for this. If an elected member resigns or a seat becomes vacant for any reason, the next person with the highest number of votes can be inducted into the Executive Committee.

This provision has existed for years. In the previous committee too, members such as Bindu ji and Hetal Parmar benefited from the same constitutional provision. They had not originally been among the top vote-getters, but when vacancies arose, they were inducted according to the Constitution. So, the same rule was followed in this case. There was no favouritism involved.

What do you say to allegations that the new members were brought in selectively?

Poonam Dhillon: We had no personal affiliation with many of these people before they joined the Executive Committee. We simply followed the Constitution. If people resign, the vacant positions have to be filled according to the rules. That is exactly what we did. These members are legitimate inductees under the Constitution. In fact, they are experienced people and we believe CINTAA can benefit from their experience.

What happened during the incident that went on the street close to the CINTAA office recently?

Tina Ghai:I was there and was quite shocked when I was informed that the police had been called. We were simply shifting some of the office material from one CINTAA office to another. While we were loading the material, there was an incident where a car was positioned in front of another vehicle, and allegations were made that we were taking away things illegally.There were several CINTAA members present at the location. The police were called, but the police officer made it very clear that it was not her job to decide which side was right or wrong. She explained that her responsibility was to maintain law and order. If a law-and-order situation developed, the police would intervene, but they could not decide the internal dispute between the two groups. I thought the officer handled the situation very professionally and clearly.

There have also been allegations of financial misuse. How do you respond to those allegations?

Poonam Dhillon: Anyone can make allegations while sitting in front of the media. But if there was even a small amount of evidence against us, it would have been produced. The fact is that the money collected for CINTAA was handled through proper banking channels. Payments were made online and the association's financial system required multiple authorised signatures. For example, the Treasurer's signature was mandatory for cheques. There were cheques and balances in place. So, the question is: how could this money have been misused without the required authorisations?

There has been discussion about the amount of money collected for CINTAA. Can you explain?

Padmini Kolhapure: Around 2010–11, money was collected for CINTA. After many years, in 2025, approximately ₹1.74 crore was collected for CINTA.The money came through proper channels and the expenses were also made through proper banking processes. There were systems in place to monitor the transactions.

There was also a disagreement regarding money for the SINTA building and its interiors. What exactly happened?

Padmini Kolhapure: The issue was related to the amount required for the interiors and inauguration of the building. There was a proposal involving approximately ₹1.75 crore for interiors and another ₹25 lakh for the inauguration. Our concern was that such a large amount should not be spent from CINTAA members' funds without following the proper process. We were very clear that CINTAA's money belongs to its members. We cannot simply spend members' money on expensive interiors, marble, granite, air-conditioning or other facilities without proper justification and approval.

Why were you so particular about protecting CINTAA's funds?

Poonam Dhillon: Because our members themselves are struggling financially. CINTAA's annual membership fee is only ₹1,200. During and after COVID, many members could not even afford to pay that amount. We introduced an amnesty scheme for members who had not paid their fees during the COVID period. We wanted to bring them back into the association because membership gives them access to important welfare benefits, including medical and financial assistance. If someone cannot afford ₹1,200, how can we simply cancel their membership and deny them those benefits? Our priority has always been the welfare of the members.

What about the compensation given to members on duty that has been questioned?

Jaya Bhatacharya: There are cases where members have genuinely suffered and required financial assistance. For example, Tina has been undergoing physiotherapy for a long period following an injury, and her daughter has also required psychological therapy. Tina was unable to work for a significant period because her hand had not regained full strength. When an actor suffers an accident while working or while performing an official duty, shouldn't the association provide assistance? If the association compensates a member according to the rules, it cannot automatically be called financial misuse.

There have been allegations concerning show-cause notices. What is your response?

Poonam Dhillon: The interesting thing is that the people who are now talking about show-cause notices were themselves involved in initiating that process. When the issue first came to us, some of us did not even understand what a show-cause notice meant because we are actors, not lawyers. The list of people who were to be co-opted into the Executive Committee was also provided to us. We did not personally know many of those individuals. We were given names and were asked to follow the process. Later, we were also asked to issue show-cause notices.

Were you being instructed by certain people about how the committee should function?

Poonam Dhillon: There was certainly a situation where we felt that certain people expected us to function according to their instructions. We were told which people should be included and how certain things should be handled. But once we became involved in the functioning of CINTAA, we wanted to work independently and focus on the welfare and goodwill of members. Our priority was to identify the problems faced by artists and find solutions.

What were some of the issues you were working on during your tenure?

Poonam Dhillon: We were working on several issues affecting artists. We met government officials and ministers to discuss the problems faced by our members. We were working on SOPs, MOUs and other initiatives that could benefit actors. For example, when Padmini and I were in Delhi, we decided to approach the Labour Minister. We contacted the minister's office, received an appointment at short notice and went to discuss the issues faced by our members. Our focus was on getting actual work done for CINTAA members.

Some people have questioned why you used personal email IDs for official communication. What do you have to say about that?

Poonam Dhillon: I never had access to the CINTAA email account on my phone. If I had to contact a government official or seek an appointment for the benefit of CINTAA members, I used the quick/easily available means of communication. The important question is not whether an email came from a personal or official address. The important question is whether the work was being done for CINTAA members. If I can secure an appointment with a minister and raise members' issues, that should be appreciated rather than criticised.

There has been a lot of discussion about ₹18 crore being held by CINTAA. What would you like to clarify?

Poonam Dhillon: The ₹18 crore belongs to CINTAA and its members. It is safe and secure. The Executive Committee is essentially a guardian of the members' funds. We have a responsibility to protect that money. I also run an NGO. Whatever I earn through my work can go towards supporting my NGO, but the finances of my NGO and CINTAA must remain completely separate. Similarly, CINTA's money should remain with CINTAA. The Trust should generate its own funds and spend them on welfare activities. There is no reason to spend CINTAA members' money on other things.

How did CINTAA accumulate ₹18 crore?

Poonam Dhillon: It happened through years of saving and responsible financial management. CINTAA has existed since 1958. Over so many years, money has been accumulated and preserved for the benefit of members.The association is the mother body, and the Trust has its own responsibilities. The Trust should raise funds through CSR, donations and other appropriate sources and use those funds for welfare.

What, according to you, has been the main problem with CAWT?

Poonam Dhillon: Our main concern was that CAWT was not doing enough of what it was established to do—raise funds and provide welfare assistance to CINTAA artists. When a member came to us during a crisis, for example after an accident, we would try to approach the Trust for assistance. But there were often delays or difficulties in getting the required support. Our intention was never to take away the Trust's role. We wanted the Trust to function effectively and fulfil its responsibility towards CINTAA artists.

Finally, what would you like to say about the personal allegations and mudslinging that has taken place?

Tina Ghai: There can always be differences of opinion, especially when people are working together. But disagreement does not mean that people have to become personal enemies. You can compete, you can disagree and you can even lose an election. That is part of democracy. But after that, you should still respect each other.

Poonam Dhillon: Exactly. Friendship does not mean that you agree with everything your friend says. If a friend is wrong, you should point it out. Padmini and I are friends, but we disagree on many things. What is important is that disagreements should remain constructive. You should not take personal differences to the media and start attacking each other publicly. CINTAA represents thousands of actors. We should remember that every public statement affects the entire organisation and its members. Our focus should be on the welfare of actors, protecting the association and strengthening CINTAA rather than engaging in personal mudslinging.

Poonam Dhillion concluded that since our committee has not been dissolved, we will continue till the next court hearing date, which is scheduled on the 26th of October, she asserted.