Sonali Joshi Pitale (MID-DAY; April 24, 2014)

While a fair share of celebs has flown down to Florida, USA, to take part in International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) this weekend, the rest of the fraternity is doing its bit in order to step out and cast its vote today.

For instance, Kangana Ranaut, who is promoting her film Revolver Rani, has managed to get a day’s break. A source says, “She was supposed to go to Ahmedabad and Jaipur, but now that trip has been cancelled. Now she may visit these cities after the film’s release.”

Suniel Shetty has already postponed the promotional tour for his film, Koyelaanchal, to vote. Meanwhile, Farhan Akhtar who will be attending the IIFA awards in Florida, has declared that he will cast his vote and then go to the US. In a recent interview, he even appealed to everyone to vote.

The team of Subhash Ghai’s film, Kaanchi, which is slated to release tomorrow, has also decided to halt its promotions for a day.

Sukhwinder Singh, who has lent his voice to a song in the film, says, “When the film’s promotional schedule was being planned, all of us informed the team that we wanted to keep everything aside on Election Day. Our marketing team has planned the promotions accordingly. I was also supposed to fly to Bangalore for a recording, but I have pushed that ahead now.”

Taking a stand
At a Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) meeting between film producers and other artistes, it was decided that producers would either cancel their shoots today or begin shooting only after 2pm. Dilip Pithwa, general secretary, FWICE, says that he has already written to all four producers’ bodies
requesting them to let their unit members ( artistes and technicians) go vote.

Accordingly, the unit of the Neha Dhupia-starrer, Ekees Topoon Ki Salaami, will start its shoot late. Says a source, “Neha requested the producer, Abhinav Shukla, to let the shoot start late. Now all unit members will have enough time to cast their vote and head to the sets for the shoot. The producer has also agreed to the same.” At recording studios too, work will start only post 2pm. BM Tiwari of Sound Engineers Association adds, “All technicians have been instructed to report to work later on account of elections. Only those who have to send in their episodes earlier on have been given some concession. Then again, they have been asked to vote before getting to work.”