Mithun on Cine Workers' Labour Union

Says Mithun, "When I took over 14 years back, the saving with the union was Rs 47 thousand and now it has gone up to Rs 15 crores. From this huge amount, we provide Rs 35 thousand for retired labourers, scholarships for education of their children and medical facility for them and their families. That's not all. We keep aside Rs 25 thousand for children's marriage especially for girls. I am now thinking of starting a pension plan for the union."

On being asked what made him take up this challenging post, the actor states, "When the labourers approached me, I agreed on one condition that they were not going to beg in front of anyone. And they have done it. All the money gathered has been through their hard work."

Defending his decision to boycott IFFI, Mithun says, "In any film festival people want glamour but as part of the entertainment industry if we send any representative of our federation to such festivals, they have to respect our decision and that person. And when I came to know that this did not happen at IFFI, as the leader of the union I had to take that decision. Even on the day my film Ek Nadir Galpo was being screened, I did not go although I felt it was the best performance of my career. I had to make this sacrifice for the union."

Mithun's forthcoming films include My Name is Anthony Gonzalves, Don Muthuswamy, The Heroes, Zindgi Tere Naam, Phir Kabhi with Dimple Kapadia and Rati Agnihotri, C Company and Sujoy Gosh's next.