Aamir keeps Sibal's request, withdraws resignation

Putting a lid on the controversy, Aamir Khan today withdrew his resignation from the copyright panel saying proposed amendments to the 53-year-old law were extremely important and historic.

Khan, who had opted out of the panel following reported differences with lyricist Javed Akhtar, decided to rescind his decision following a request made by HRD Minister Kapil Sibal.

"I have given a lot of thought to your request to take back my resignation and be a part of the committee. I have also read the letter the other members have written to you reiterating their faith in me. The amendment to the Copyright Act (of 1957) is an extremely important process, indeed historic. In light of the above I take back my resignation," Aamir said in his letter to Sibal.

Sibal yesterday asked Aamir to reconsider his resignation from the panel. He told Aamir that the other members of the panel were not questioning his integrity.

"I will endeavour to contribute to this process to the best of my abilities," Aamir said.

The other letter written by the members of the panel was forwarded to Aamir by the members themselves. The members had requested Sibal to persuade the actor to withdraw his resignation. The letter was written by Akhtar, Vishal Bharadwaj, Vishal Dadlani, Prasoon Joshi, Anjum Rajabali, Saket Chaudhury and Ram Sampat.

Earlier, Aamir had said he was opting out of the panel as he was being publicly attacked by some people.

The actor reportedly had heated exchanges with Akhtar and others over the issue of royalties in a meeting between producers and writers on Sunday.

Sibal yesterday said it is an informal committee and the purpose of setting up such a panel was to initiate a process of dialogue on the issue of objections raised by certain sections of film industry to the proposed amendment.

The committee would evolve a formula under which the authors of musical, cinematographic and literary works will be entitled to royalty in case their works are used for commercial purposes, a benefit denied to them so far.

The Union Cabinet on December 24 last year approved certain amendments to the 1957 Copyright Act. The view of this panel may be considered by a Parliamentary Standing Committee if the Bill is referred to it.