Archive · 11 Aug 2026
Poonam Dhillon Hits Back at CINTAA Allegations After Mass Resignations
There is a group in India called CINTAA that helps people who work in movies and TV shows.
It is like a club where actors and actresses look after each other.
Recently, eight important people in the group decided to quit.
That caused a big argument, and some people said mean things about the group's leader, Poonam Dhillon, and another actress, Padmini Kolhapure.
Poonam said the accusations were rude and untrue.
She said the people making them were angry because things did not go the way they wanted.
She also said that some not-very-nice messages were shared on WhatsApp.
Poonam has worked in movies for more than 40 years.
She said her good name and self-respect are the most important things to her.
CINTAA President Poonam Dhillon and Senior Vice President Padmini Kolhapure face allegations of misusing their positions after eight committee members resigned.
Dhillon says the controversy began after some people, unhappy that legal proceedings did not go their way, tried to control CINTAA members through the CAWT and then levelled serious allegations.
The resigning members cited unilateral decision-making, lack of transparency, bypassing constitutional governance, and misrepresenting privately hired lawyers as official CINTAA counsel.
Dhillon described the allegations as 'vulgar' and 'deeply offensive', saying paid mouthpieces — including one or two CINTAA members — circulated hurtful WhatsApp messages and voice notes.
The eight resigning members — Hemant Pandey, Mukesh Rishi, Sahila Chadha, Heta Parmar, Puneet Issar, Vindu Dara Singh, Vikas Verma and Deepak Parashar — submitted resignations to General Secretary Upasana Singh.
- Who
- Poonam Dhillon, President of the Cine and TV Artistes' Association (CINTAA); Senior Vice President Padmini Kolhapure; General Secretary Upasana Singh; and eight committee members who resigned — Hemant Pandey, Mukesh Rishi, Sahila Chadha, Heta Parmar, Puneet Issar, Vindu Dara Singh, Vikas Verma and Deepak Parashar.
- What
- A dispute within CINTAA over the CAWT and alleged misuse of positions, which led to allegations against Dhillon and Kolhapure and the resignation of eight executive committee members.
- When
- Exact date not stated in the articles; Dhillon said she had considered leaving CINTAA's Executive Committee several times over the past year and a half.
- Where
- India — within CINTAA, the organisation for the country's film and television artistes; Dhillon's remarks were made in an interview with ANI.
- Why
- Dhillon says disgruntled members, unhappy with legal outcomes, tried to control CINTAA members through the CAWT and then made offensive allegations; the resigning members cited unilateral decision-making, lack of transparency and bypassing constitutional governance.
Poonam Dhillon and Padmini Kolhapure
Resigning CINTAA committee members
Cause of the CINTAA crisis
Poonam Dhillon and Padmini Kolhapure
The controversy began after some people failed to get their desired outcome through legal proceedings and tried to exercise control over CINTAA members through the CAWT.
Resigning CINTAA committee members
Leadership repeatedly made executive decisions and issued communications without the consultation or approval of the executive committee, abandoning CINTAA's principles of consultation and constitutional governance.
Transparency and use of office
Poonam Dhillon and Padmini Kolhapure
Dhillon says she and Kolhapure used their personal contacts to do positive work for CINTAA, and complaints about their visibility reflect narrow thinking.
Resigning CINTAA committee members
Officials allegedly routed official communications through personal email addresses instead of the organisation's secure portal and misrepresented privately hired lawyers as official CINTAA legal counsel.
Handling of criticism
Poonam Dhillon and Padmini Kolhapure
Dhillon says the allegations were vulgar and circulated by paid mouthpieces, including one or two CINTAA members, through hurtful WhatsApp messages and voice notes.
Resigning CINTAA committee members
Members' resignations followed genuine concerns about unilateral decision-making, lack of transparency and bypassing constitutional governance in the association.
- Organisation
- Cine and TV Artistes' Association (CINTAA)
- President
- Poonam Dhillon
- Senior Vice President
- Padmini Kolhapure
- General Secretary
- Upasana Singh
- Number of resigning members
- 8
- Resigning members
- Hemant Pandey, Mukesh Rishi, Sahila Chadha, Heta Parmar, Puneet Issar, Vindu Dara Singh, Vikas Verma, Deepak Parashar
- Allegations against leadership
- Unilateral decision-making, lack of transparency, bypassing constitutional governance, misrepresenting private lawyers as CINTAA counsel
- Point of dispute
- Perceived attempts to control CINTAA members through the CAWT and disagreement over visibility given to Dhillon and Kolhapure
