Former General Secretary of the Cine and TV Artistes Association (CINTAA), Upasana Singh, has levelled serious allegations against the organisation's current leadership, accusing Poonam Dhillon and Padmini Kolhapure of allegedly using CINTAA's platforms, funds, and events for personal publicity. The accusations surfaced on 28 August amid a deepening internal crisis within the association, following the resignation of 11 Executive Committee members earlier this month.

Key Allegations by Upasana Singh

Singh alleged that photographs from ministerial meetings attended by multiple Executive Committee members were selectively cropped to feature only Dhillon and Kolhapure. 'We used to go only to meet the ministers. If you look at our phones, I can show you so many photographs of meeting the ministers, which we also used to go. But whose photographs were printed? Photographs were printed only of Poonam and Padmini,' she said.

She further alleged that if any other member's photograph was included, it was cropped out. 'This has happened with Dilbaghji as well. So, only her photographs will be printed. Then, CINTAA was used only for her publicity,' Singh claimed.

Press Conferences and Exclusion of EC Members

Singh alleged that CINTAA's funds were used to organise press conferences where Dhillon and Kolhapure were given disproportionate prominence. She specifically pointed to a press conference tied to the Raj Kapoor Night event, claiming that no other Executive Committee members were invited. 'In that, none of our EC members were invited. Only Poonam and Padmini were invited,' she said, adding that she only learnt of the event through media reports afterwards.

She also alleged that at a press conference connected to a show involving veteran actress Hema Malini, EC members were given a reporting time of 3.30 pm while the event had already commenced at 12.30 pm. 'When Deepak Parashar knocked when he reached the venue, nobody even opened the door,' Singh alleged.

The Resignation Crisis Inside CINTAA

The allegations come in the backdrop of a significant internal rupture. Eleven members of CINTAA's Executive Committee resigned earlier in August, of whom eight were elected members — Hemant Pandey, Mukesh Rishi, Sahila Chadha, Hetal Parmar, Puneet Issar, Vindu Dara Singh, Vikas Verma, and Deepak Parashar. Their resignations were accompanied by allegations of unfair decision-making and misuse of positions within the organisation.

Leadership Rejects the Charges

At a CINTAA press conference held on 24 August, Dhillon and Kolhapure categorically rejected Singh's allegations. Poonam Dhillon described the accusations as 'baseless and false,' asserting that all funds raised by CINTAA were fully accounted for and that no money was used for personal gain. Padmini Kolhapure echoed this position, stating that funds were handled responsibly and directed towards their intended beneficiaries.

What Happens Next

With eight elected members having stepped down and counter-allegations flying publicly, CINTAA faces a credibility test over its internal governance. The dispute is likely to attract scrutiny from the broader film industry and possibly regulatory bodies overseeing registered artiste associations. How the organisation resolves this leadership conflict could set a precedent for accountability within Bollywood's trade bodies.