MUMBAI: We know them as actors who enrapture their fans when they enact roles on the screen. But earlier this month they united for another reason: to put together a bunch of people who would represent their interests through the Cine & TV Artistes Association (Cintaa) for the years 2013-2014.

Among those who made it to the podium after a full day of voting in Mumbai and two days of counting thereafter figured: the Johnny Lever group, Rakhi Sawant and Sahila Chaddha. And then it was the turn of those elected to put together the various committees to look after their specific interests. This is what was achieved and announced recently.

Cintaa?s executive committee has Johnny Lever re-elected as the president, Mahabharat fame Gajendra Chauhan bagged the vice-president?s post, film director Dharmesh Tiwari pipped everyone to become general secretary, veteran actor Aron Baali the treasurer. And guess what: the feisty and fiery Rakhi Sawant blazed through the ranks to be elected as joint secretary.

Other executive committee members include former Miss India and actress Sahila Chaddha, actor Gulshan Pandey, veteran Indian actor Susheel Parashar, Sudhir Pandey known for his work in Matrubhoomi: A Nation Without Women, Pankaj Dheer best known for his role as Karna in epic TV series, Mahabharata, Raza Murad known for his negative roles in films, Shagufta Ali known as ?Chaiji? in Star Plus fiction series Veera and last but not the least Indian film and television actor Rajiv Verma.

Cintaa has also put in place a sub-committee to address specific issues which need resolution: Rakhi Sawant is the chairperson of ?Dispute Settlement Committee?; Pankaj Dheer is the chairperson of ?Scrutiny Committee?, whereas Sudhir Pandey is the chairperson of ?Vigilance Committee?, Sahila Chaddha is the chairperson of ?Care Committee?, Raza Murad is the chairperson of ?Programme Committee? and Gajendra Chauhan the ?Public Relation Committee?.

Cintaa general secretary Dharmesh Tiwari states: "We are quite satisfied with the new elected committee team. This year our main concern will be towards the payment of conveyance to the artistes. Actors are not given their due respect when it comes to payment and conveyance. The actors who shoot for four or five days in TV serials should be given their payment at that particular or next day. Nowadays actors are not even provided with conveyance a facility which is the right of every artiste. Every year, we as a team try to safeguard the interest of the artistes and we will try to do so in the future as well."

MUMBAI: With talent costs climbing, the importance of the Cine & TV Artistes? Association (Cintaa) - the premier association representing TV and film actors - has been growing every year in the TV industry. And the battle to occupy posts in the association has been growing in intensity every two years.

This year was no different. 58 contestants were vying to get elected. The elections were held on 1 May concurrent with the annual general meeting at the Barifwala Hall in Mumbai and counting took about two days thereafter.

The results came out this morning with veteran comic actor Johnny Lever romping home with 839 votes followed by Rakhi Sawant who got 734 votes and Sahila Chadda with 670 votes.

Each of them represented factions within Cintaa. The existing committee members led by Lever, new entrant Sawant and solo candidate Chaddha. The designations of the newly elected members will be decided sometime next week.

The Johny Lever group emerged victorious once again with majority of its existing executive members getting re-elected. Amongst the re-elected members are Dharmesh Tiwari, Gajender Chauhan, Aroon Bali, Rajiv Verma, Raza Murad and Sudhir Pandey, while Pankaj Dheer and Shagufta Ali are the new ones.

From Sawant?s group Sushil Parashar and Gulshan Pandey came out triumphant.

Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) general secretary Dinesh Chaturvedi commented, "Johny has been extremely helpful and has done a lot for the artistes. There have been a lot of improvements during his tenure as a president like medical insurance, security, and so on. We are looking forward to some more improvements."

Cintaa represents the interests of the artiste community and steps in when there are disputes with TV or film producers, or broadcasters and also works to improve their lot.

Former Cintaa general secretary Dharmesh Tiwari said: "Cintaa has always been welcoming artistes who face any injustice or are not given due respect. We, as an association, always aimed to secure the members with fair conditions of life and service. We have always tried to redress their grievances, tried to prevent any reduction of wages and if possible, to obtain an advance whenever circumstances allow."

Given below is the list of winners of Cintaa Elections 2013