Suresh Shyamlal Gupta

Suresh Gupta started his political career during early college days. He joined Indian National Congress (INC) in 2006 in presence of Late Gurudas Kamat. In 2013, he was appointed as Mumbai president of youth wing of Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC). Later in 2014, he became national secretary of youth wing of INTUC.

Aiming for the betterment of the Indian cine workers and artists, Suresh Shyamlal Gupta established a non-profitable organization AlCWA (All Indian Cine Workers Association) in 2016. Believing in the motto of putting cine workers first, the organization aims at taking the voice of the workers to the government and fighting for their rights and heeding to the needs of the workers. Since its foundation, the organization has been a part of numerous news and controversies. Some of them include putting a ban on Pakistani actors after 2019 Pulwama attack, boycotting and banning Mika Singh from the film industry after Singh performed at a wedding in Pakistan.[10]

Suresh took initiative to sort out the issues of artists, workers, or laborers of the Indian Film Industry with the support of MLA Shri Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil (Opposition Leader – Maharashtra Legislative Assembly) in presence of Shri Sambhaji Nilgekar ( Labour Minister of Maharashtra) and other higher officers valuable meeting was conducted on that meeting first-time decision was taken by Government of Maharashtra to form a committee for welfare and rights of artists, workers, and laborers in Indian Film Industry.

In 2016, Suresh Shyamlal Gupta exposed illegal kidney racket which was being led by higher authorities of Hiranandani Hospital. The main witness and victim Sundar Singh Jatav, through a friend approached Suresh Gupta to get help in exposing this complex kidney trafficking network.[11][12] Sundar started getting death threats soon after lodging of the FIR. Despite all the hardships no protection was given to victim and later he was found dead in suspicious condition on 8 January 2019, leaving many questions unanswered. Followed by the incident, Suresh Gupta demanded CBI inquiry of the case.[13] Although Hiranandani CEO & 4 others were sent to 14-day judicial custody[14] no accused were put behind the bars till date.

Suresh has written a letter to Hon'ble Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi pleading complete ban on Pakistani artists after Pakistan Govt. banned the release of Indian films in its country.[15]

Seeking relief fund for cine workers who went workless due to COVID-19 pandemic, AICWA president Suresh Gupta wrote a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. He pleaded, "the Indian film industry that generates revenue to the tune of Rs 2 trillion (short scale) was unable to feed a large chunk of its labourers who were on daily wages."[16]

In February 2019 AICWA under able leadership of Suresh demanded blanket ban on Pakistani Artists after 2019 Pulwama attack on Indian CRPF Jawans. Later he wrote a letter to the then Minister of External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj, asking for Pakistani artistes to be deported back to their native country.[17]

For defaming of the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Suresh raised his voice and lodge a complaint at Chembur Police station on 11 July 2018, against over-the-top media services provider Netflix, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and the producers of the new series "Sacred Games".[18]

When Mika Singh performed at a wedding in Pakistan, Suresh Gupta banned and boycotted Mika Singh from the film industry.[19] Suresh Gupta protested outside the Mika Singh House after performing at an event in Pakistan at a ceremony attended by a relative of a former dictator General Pervez Musharraf.[20] "AICWA activists will ensure that no one in India works with Mika Singh and if anyone does so, they will have to face legal consequences," he said in a statement.[21][22] Suresh Gupta also requested the intervention of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in this regard.[23][24]

Cine Vista Studio's Management faced rage from Suresh as one crew member lost his life due to negligence on the part of studio owners, production house, and the producer. He said that "The death was due to negligence on the part of studio owners, production house, and the producer. Union members had complained about the lack of fire safety measures yet the studio has not complied with the mandatory firefighting system."[25]

After Yogi Adityanath announced a new film city in Uttar Pradesh, Suresh Gupta said, "By the way, shooting of many films is going on in Lucknow. It is possible sometimes but not many films will be shot. Women feel safe in Mumbai. There are around 30 percent women associated with film industry in Mumbai. I doubt if the freedom to work day and night be available to them there?"[26][27]