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."