Actress and former CINTAA General Secretary Upasana Singh has leveled serious allegations against senior actors Poonam Dhillon and Padmini Kolhapure, claiming they repeatedly humiliated fellow executive committee members Mukesh Rishi and Deepak Parashar during internal proceedings. Singh revealed that the ongoing leadership friction at the Cine and TV Artistes' Association (CINTAA) reached a boiling point after high-ranking members were subjected to disrespect, leaving senior actors in tears and triggering a massive wave of resignations.
Internal Rift at CINTAA Escalates Into Open Conflict
The controversy surrounding the management of CINTAA has deepened as former office-bearers step forward to detail the internal operations of the union. Upasana Singh, who served as the General Secretary, broke her silence regarding the severe governance issues and alleged autocratic behavior exhibited by the current leadership, specifically calling out President Poonam Dhillon and senior leader Padmini Kolhapure.
According to Singh, the atmosphere within the executive committee deteriorated due to a complete breakdown of democratic norms. She alleged that dissenting voices were systematically silenced, and those who dared to question the decision-making process were subjected to publicly humiliating treatment.
Allegations of Humiliation and High-Handed Behavior
Detailing specific instances of disrespect, Upasana Singh highlighted the unfair treatment meted out to veteran actors Mukesh Rishi and Deepak Parashar. Parashar, who shares a decades-long personal and professional friendship with Poonam Dhillon, was reportedly silenced abruptly during crucial board meetings.
Recalling a particularly tense meeting, Singh stated that when Deepak Parashar attempted to present his viewpoint in a calm manner, he was repeatedly spoken down to and instructed to sit down. The confrontation escalated to a point where Parashar, unable to voice his concerns despite repeated pleas, left the meeting room in intense anger and distress.
Singh similarly noted that character actor Mukesh Rishi faced repeated belittling during committee deliberations. She claimed that senior members who contributed significantly to the committee's foundation were left feeling completely disrespected and reduced to tears due to the dismissive attitude of the leadership.
Claims of Dictatorship, Cropped Photos, and PR Misuse
Upasana Singh’s accusations extend beyond verbal altercations to broader claims of administrative mismanagement and institutional misuse. She accused Dhillon and Kolhapure of running CINTAA like a "dictatorship," where formal show-cause notices were routinely issued to committee members who refused to blindly agree with leadership decisions.
Singh further alleged that official CINTAA events, press conferences, and government meetings were exploited primarily for personal publicity. According to her:
Media Coverage Bias: Official photographs sent to the press or published on the CINTAA portal were deliberately edited or cropped to highlight only Poonam Dhillon and Padmini Kolhapure, removing other committee members who were present.
Exclusion from Key Events: Executive committee members were kept in the dark regarding major press conferences and high-profile events, such as a tribute night for Raj Kapoor and a show for Hema Malini, often finding out about them through media reports.
Resource Misallocation: Association funds and media platforms were allegedly used to prioritize individual publicity over genuine welfare initiatives for junior artists and workers.
Mass Resignations and the Leadership’s Defense
The growing discontent recently culminated in eight elected Executive Committee members resigning from their positions in protest. Prominent figures including Puneet Issar, Vindu Dara Singh, Hemant Pandey, Vikas Verma, Sahila Chadha, and Deepak Parashar submitted their resignations, citing a complete loss of faith in the current leadership and demanding fresh, transparent elections.
In response to these allegations, Poonam Dhillon and Padmini Kolhapure issued strong statements denying all charges. Calling the accusations completely baseless and false, Dhillon stated that all funds raised by CINTAA are strictly accounted for and utilized strictly for the welfare of beneficiary members without any personal gain or constitutional violations. She maintained that the leadership operates with complete transparency and integrity.
Despite the leadership's denial, the public fallout and statements from former committee members indicate a severe structural crisis within one of Indian cinema’s oldest artist welfare bodies, with calls for independent intervention growing louder across the industry.