About Us
The Cine Artistes Welfare Trust (CAWT) safeguards the dignity, well-being, and legacy of the artists who shaped Indian cinema, ensuring they receive care, recognition, and support in their later years.
The Story of CAWT
The Cine Artiste Welfare Trust (CAWT) is a public charitable trust established in 1991 by some of the most revered legends of Indian cinema, including Shri Dilip Kumar, Shri Sunil Dutt, Shri Amjad Khan, Shri Dara Singh, Shri Amrish Puri, Shri Chandrashekhar Vaidya, Ms. Asha Parekh, Shri Mithun Chakraborty, and Shri Johnny Lever, among others.
The primary objective of the Trust is to provide financial and social support to cine artistes, who due to irregular employment or age-related challenges, have fallen into economic hardship. The Trust functions under the jurisdiction of the Charity Commissioner and is registered to issue 80G certificates to donors for tax exemptions.
Under the umbrella of CINTAA (Cine and TV Artistes’ Association), we currently serve approximately 9,000 members. Many among them, particularly aged character artistes and their dependents, struggle to meet basic needs. Through the Trust, we offer monthly financial assistance, emergency medical aid for critical treatments like cancer and surgeries, and even cover school fees for the children of economically distressed members.
Our Vision
"To build a sustainable ecosystem where every contributor to the cinematic arts is valued, protected, and remembered—preserving the heritage of cinema while strengthening support systems for future generations."
Our Mission
"To provide compassionate welfare support, healthcare assistance, and financial security to artists who have dedicated their lives to the film industry, ensuring they live with dignity, respect, and recognition in their later years."
Founder Trustees
The visionaries who began this noble journey.
Mr. Dilip Kumar
Founder Trustee
Ms. Asha Parekh
Founder Trustee
Mr. Sunil Dutt
Founder Trustee
Mr. Mithun Chakraborthy
Founder Trustee
Mr. Amrish Puri
Founder Trustee
Mr. Amjad Khan
Founder Trustee
Mr. Dara Singh
Founder Trustee
Mr. Johny Lever
Founder Trustee
Mr. Chandrashekhar Vaidya
Founder Trustee
