CINTAA meets Labour Commissioner to ensure enforcement of actor rights

In a bid to discuss concerns regarding changes to regulations in the wake of the third wave of COVID-19 in India, and to spell out the several challenges endured by the actors, CINTAA dignitaries including Joint Secretary Sanjay Bhatia, CEO Satish Vasan and Executive Committee Member Hetal Parmar met with Addl. Commissioner of Labour Shirin S Lokhande and Secretary madam labour dept. Smt Vinita Ved Singhal -IAS Principal Secretary at Kaamgar Bhavan, BKC.

The major concerns which the Honourable Labour Commissioner took note of were the following:

• Actors working for less than seven days a month shall be brought under contract and to be paid within 30 days
• Children should not work for more than 8 hours a day and there should be appropriate guidelines.
• Contract copies of the actors shall be given to the actors at the earliest.
• Women and Child actors shall be provided pickup and drop from their homes in case of odd hours of shooting shifts like very early call time and late-night pack up.
• Request for a uniform contract and include the broadcasters as a party to the contract.
• Attention of the Additional Commissioner being drawn to the payment delays/defaults by producers.

• Reluctance by producers to hand over copy of the talent agreement to the artiste was put forth and she categorically emphasized that both parties to the agreement should have a copy of the same.
A written representation was given to the commissioner and all in all an eventful meeting to ensure the voice of actors  be heard.

Gaurav S Bajaj makes waves with Khel Khel Mein and Armaan Malik music video

  Actor Gaurav S Bajaj, who has made his mark with television shows is now the talk of the town for his role in Khel Khel Mein, a Made In India Pictures and Sky247 venture  production.

 Shot in Mumbai, Khel Khel Mein is Gaurav's first short film.  
"It was a no greasepaint look during a day shoot, and the challenge  was that I had to be in my character without makeup or styling. I admit I had my apprehensions, but I realised the feel on the sets," he reasons.
Gaurav has also recently finished a Bengali music video in Kolkata with singer Armaan Malik opposite actress Karishma Sharma.   Gaurav will soon be seen in another romantic music by Made in India Pictures. " the song is in its post production stage," reasons Gaurav
 Talking about  serials, Gaurav is still waiting for a good script. In the webseries front, the actor is awaiting his release in May. " It is a very interesting character. I have never played this role and I feel this one will be another gamechanger," he reasons.
Santosh Gupta of Made In India Pictures is elated. "Gaurav S Bajaj is one of the most promising talents in India today. I am very excited to have him in our short film and music video. This young man has amazing potential."

Vikram Gokhale makes Corona-inspired Short, casts international actor- Miss India Tourism Rupali Suri

 In Bollywood, it is said that if the beginning is good, then the  journey  becomes easy, and if the journey is interesting, then the path often lead to the top.  Actor Rupali Suri is one of those who worked in an international feature film 'Dad Hold My Hand' with actress Ratna Pathak Shah in the beginning of her career and was very much appreciated globally. Now,   under the direction of veteran actor Vikram Gokhale,  Rupali will be seen in the short film 'Kuch Seekhe'.



 Vikram Gokhale himself has written, edited, composed and directed this short film on the relationship between husband and wife in lock down.  When the world was imprisoned in the homes due to lock down, in some places the relations were getting stronger, and took turn from better to worse and vice versa. The bitter-sweet relationship between husband and wife is very beautifully portrayed by the actors in this film.

Says Vikram Gokhale, "in this story, the wife  takes care of the kitchen and the house, and the man does the outside work.  During  lock down,  he contributes to cleaning, swabbing and cooking among other things and what begins as a timepass to beat boredom turns into a realisation exercise. He realises the hard work that his wife died on a daily basis so that his home is sailing smooth.   'Kuch Sikhe', a sweet gesture of husband and wife, and drives home a social message that men should understand and respect the dedication and sacrifice of women."

Rupali Suri is also very excited to work with Vikram Gokhale. This is her second with the veteran actor after  Organic Dosti that celebrates the  friendship between a young woman and a senior man.  

 "Vikram sir is an institution. You learn so much. I am lucky that my break has been with veteran actors who share their learning without holding back. This forms the base of growth of us actors who grow their wings."

 

Adds Vikram Gokhale,  "Rupali is a  good actress, good student who asks, listens, understands and follows when you guide.  She will do wonders in the future and is surely an actress to watch out for".

Need we say more!

How actress Heena was bitten by a scorpion

 Telugu actress Heena braved scorpion bites filming in the jungles of Telangana for the music video Kala. “There were snakes in the jungle and I was trying to avoid them but was bitten by a scorpion. I was rushed to the hospital and given an antidote and taken back to the shoot. The makers wanted to give me a break, but I preferred to shoot and virtually gave my blood for the video,” chuckles the actress. The only difference on that day was I was bitten by a scorpion, while my favourite actor Salman Khan was bitten by a snake,” he avers.

No wonder the music video has a sting to it.

“Life’s journey is all about dreaming and doing something to achieve that dream. The ability to imagine something larger than life forms the essence of living. ‘Kala’ is a musical attempt to depict the dream of many,” says Seshu KMR about his dream music video called Kala in Telugu. Seshu has been working with many filmmakers including his mentor Ram Gopal Varma who launched the music video on his Twitter handle. ‘Kala’ is a musical video song, shot in picturesque locations of Goa and Hyderabad by DOP Bhargav Ravada. Featuring the promising and beautiful actress Heena S, the song is rendered by the well-known singer Neha Karode.

A KMR Corp Presentation and a Playback Entertainment Production, the music video stars Heena S and has lyrics by Kavi Siddhartha with music, concept and direction by Seshu KMR. The editing and Vfx has been done by Surya Reddy SS with Raj Kumar Reddy as the executive producer.