Actor Kunickaa Sadanand on 12 September questioned Poonam Dhillon and Padmini Kolhapure's decision to continue holding their positions in the Cine & TV Artistes' Association (CINTAA), even as fresh elections for the association's committee were conducted in Mumbai on the same day. Sadanand, a long-standing CINTAA member, suggested the move appeared to be driven more by ego than by a desire to serve the artiste community.

What Kunickaa Sadanand said

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the CINTAA elections, Sadanand was initially reluctant to comment directly on her colleagues. 'I don't know, you will have to ask them,' she said when asked why Dhillon and Kolhapure were reportedly not stepping aside.

However, drawing on her own tenure as a former committee member, she went on to share a pointed observation. 'I have been a member for so long, I have already been in the committee once. Very early. I met Dara Singh. You came there to give service, but it looks like an ego issue now, what else could it be?' she said.

Sadanand welcomes fresh polls

Despite the controversy, Sadanand struck an optimistic tone about the election process itself, calling it a 'new beginning' for CINTAA. 'I am happy that the voter turnout is good, the arrangements are good. I am happy and this is a new beginning. I hope that we will come with a good committee so that we can do something good,' she remarked.

Key priorities for the new committee

Sadanand outlined the issues she believed the incoming committee should prioritise. 'My ballot paper number is 7. I have taken seven votes. In that, obviously, the security of the artist, the security of their family, the security and safety of their women, then the level of equality of the artist,' she said.

She added that she had several ideas she wanted to work on, including improving the payment system for artists — a longstanding grievance among television and film workers who often face delayed or non-payment for their work.

Background to the CINTAA dispute

The elections come amid a period of internal friction within CINTAA, one of the oldest artiste bodies in the Indian entertainment industry. The association has periodically faced criticism over governance transparency and whether its leadership adequately represents the interests of its diverse membership, which includes both established names and daily-wage performers. The ongoing dispute involving Dhillon and Kolhapure reportedly centres on their reluctance to vacate their positions ahead of or following the fresh electoral mandate.

This is not the first time CINTAA's internal politics have drawn public attention. The body has navigated leadership tussles before, but the current episode stands out because of the high-profile names involved and the growing demand among members for structural reform. The outcome of these elections and the composition of the new committee will be closely watched by the industry.