Ashoke Pandit speaks about the forthcoming IFTDA elections

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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USA: Oye! Times readers Get FREE $30 to spend on Amazon, Walmart…While August 15 holds prime importance to the whole of India, there is one more day this year which holds utmost importance to the TV and film fraternity. And that day is August 16, as that's the day when the elections of IFTDA (The Indian Film & Television Directors' Association) will take place.

Filmmaker and social activist Ashoke Pandit (who is also the acting President of IFTDA), spoke excessively to Bollywood Hungama about the upcoming elections. Speaking about the same, he said "At the topmost priority now is the election of IFTDA. It's a very important body, under which the directors and the assistant directors are its members. I was heading the organization for the last two terms. We are managing the entire show (elections) this year. The date which will decide the fate is August 16 of this month. The basic idea is to have names in the team those who are capable, working hard, passionate to work for the industry and maintaining the dignity of the director. If we don't follow this, then, anybody who is sitting at home and not doing anything will come (read 'join') to the organization. If something like this happens, then, the entire purpose of the organization will go for a toss."

When asked about the aim and purpose to form a team during the elections, he said, "There are lots of issues that the directors and the assistant directors are facing (esp. the assistant directors in TV). There are no proper working conditions under which they work. There are no separate toilets for the women on the sets. There is a dearth of hygiene and cleanliness. We are here to see that the facilities for the directors should be duly respected and they should get their dues. We also want the ill and sick people to be looked after well. In the television fraternity, the directors and assistant directors are highly insecure as they get changed overnight by the channel, without giving any notice. We are fighting for these people to maintain their dignity."

When asked about any 'amendments' which he would like to bring after he wins, he quickly said that the IFTDA has already chalked out the 'Ten Commandments'. He and his team (whose slogan is Turant Action, Turant Parinaam') will simply abide by the 'Ten Commandments'.

The supporters of the 'Ashoke Pandit Group' include prominent personalities like Rajkumar Hirani, Rohit Shetty, Anand L. Rai, David Dhawan, Subhash Ghai, Ashutosh Gowariker, Rajkumar Santoshi, Madhur Bhandarkar, Anupam Kher, Anil Sharma, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Nitin Desai, Ramesh Sippy, Sajid Nadiadwala, Sunil Bohra and TV personalities including Diya & Toni, Sashi Sumeet and Rajan Shahi.

Article written by staff at Bollywood Hungama. Read more