The actors are being closely watched, and it is not merely for their performances. The labour department and the police have their eyes peeled on them. Urvashi Dhanorkar, a television artiste, has recently been accused of forcibly employing Rameshwari, a minor girl as maid, and abusing her. If labour minister Nawab Malik is to be believed, there are three more actors against whom his department has initiated inquiries.
“Suchitra Krishnamurthy (Bollywood actor) employed a minor girl, Naranti, as domestic help. Two more TV actors have also committed the same offence,” Malik said. He lamented that instead of being role models to other people, these actors are setting wrong examples by not complying with the law.
Krishnamurthy, however, trashed the allegation. “I am shocked. I defy anybody to come forward and furnish details on this,” she told DNA. “The labour minister is lying. I hope that it is just a misunderstanding. I have no clue why I am being accused as I have never hired a maid aged below 14. The one I have now is of 19. I am aware of the laws. No one from the police department, labour department or an NGO has approached me. Nobody has sent me any notice. I don’t even know the girl (Naranti) they are talking about.”
Labour commissioner Kavita Gupta said, “Domestic help is considered a hazardous industry according to the child labour regulation Act of 1986. We expect people will be sensitive to this issue and follow the regulations.”
