Although Bollywood is famous for its glitter and glamour, working conditions for background actors and film crews are notoriously poor. Production of movies and TV programmes has been halted indefinitely because of the industrial action ordered by a coalition of 22 unions.

"All shoots are off," says Dinesh Chaturvedi, general secretary of the Federation of Western India Cine Employ-ees, the umbrella union for B-Town employees, "The producers have not stuck to the terms of the agreement they signed with us over a year back. Payments have been delayed. Producers are hiring non-members to save costs. We aren't happy about calling for this non-cooperation, but we're helpless."

Producers and broadcasters are hoping the dispute can be resolved quickly, without having a major effect on the festival season in India, when advertising and film ticket sales peak.

Leading producers' body,  AMPTPP (Association of Motion Picture & TV Programme Producers ) had a meeting with numerous TV channel officials a couple of days back as most of the distress comes from TV production houses who overwork technicians. Represent- atives from Sony, Colors. NDTV Imagine, Zee, Star, 9X and others held the meet.