Weeks after Yash Raj Films’ head honcho Aditya Chopra pledged to bear the inoculation expense of 30,000 film workers belonging to the Federation of Western India Cine Employees, the coordination committee of Cine and TV Artistes’ Association (CINTAA) has noted that background actors should be included in the drive. Amit Behl, senior joint secretary, CINTAA, reveals that the body recently sent an e-mail to four unions — Producers’ Guild, Indian Film and Television Producers’ Council (IFTPC), Western India Film Producers’ Association (WIFPA) and Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association (IMPPA) — to this effect.

“We have also requested [television channels] and producers, including Aditya Chopra and [Salman Khan’s] studio, to [focus on] the actors as well. The number of [daily-wage] workers on a set is minuscule due to the bio-bubble; the bulk of the unit are the supporting cast. Actors are [vulnerable] as they can’t wear PPE suits or masks in front of the camera,” states Behl, adding that 5,000 artistes are part of CINTAA. 

Confirming the mail’s receipt, T P Aggarwal, IMPPA president, says the inoculation plan hasn’t progressed further due to the shortage of vaccines in the country. “When we get the vaccines, CINTAA members will be inoculated too. That said, when IMPPA can pledge to pay for producers’ jabs, why can’t CINTAA dip into their funds instead of asking the producers?”