Action against actors: Kerala culture minister backs film bodies

Chennai: Kerala Culture Minister Saji Cheriyan has extended his support to film associations who have decided not to provide a no-objection certificate to actors Shane Nigam and Sreenath Bhasi, deepening the ongoing slugfest between the actors and producers.

The associations, namely, Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA), Kerala Film Producers’ Association (KFPA) and Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA), have announced their mentioned decision after the actors caused trouble to film produces causing them financial losses, The Indian Express reported.

The culture minister said that he would have talks with film professionals so as to restrict drug abuse among actors. He will initiate strict actions on drug users in the industry if the association files a complaint but added that no one is stopping the actors from rectifying their mistakes and returning to the industry.

Cheriyan told reporters that the government has the responsibility for the progress and security of the industry. It has carried out inspections to monitor drug abuse at shooting locations, while the industry has its own rules regarding the same.

KFPA official and film producer M Renjith said in a Kochi press-meet on Tuesday that there are many who use drugs at movie sets. Sreenath Bhasi and Shane Nigam were two among them and had caused trouble multiple times, causing inconvenience to technicians as well as co-actors.

He added that though KFPA is not banning the two actors, it could not cooperate with them.

While Shane was accused of walking out of a movie set demanding more prominence to his role as well as interfering with the editing of a film, Bhasi has been accused of not respecting the contracts he signed with film producers.