Aamir Khan resigns from Copyright Act panel

Aamir Khan has resigned from the 10-member committee set up by HRD Minister Kapil Sibal to review the proposed amendments in Copyright Act following differences with some members.

"It seems to me that there is an attempt by certain people to attack me in public by printing lies about me, thereby turning the attention away from a genuine debate about copyright issues," the 44-year-old actor said in the letter to Sibal.

The actor's decision comes after he reportedly had heated exchanges with lyricist Javed Akhtar and others over the issue of royalties in a meeting between producers and writers.

Aamir, on the side of the producers, said that a song's popularity depended on the star it was picturised on and not on the lyricist's efforts, much to the annoyance of Akhtar, who said that song Papa Kehte Hai became a hit even when Aamir was a newcomer in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak.

"Aggression of this type leaves me feeling very disillusioned and sad and I am unable to function. Therefore I request you to accept my resignation from this committee and please appoint another person in my place," Aamir said.

Aamir said he was not comfortable being part of the committee in the wake of the "public attacks" against him. "I feel I have a lot to contribute to the ongoing debate but I cannot make any meaningful contribution in this atmosphere," he said, adding amendments to the Copyright Act were long overdue.

Akhtar was unavailable for comment. Government set up the panel of experts to examine the issue and submit a report over the proposed amendment to the Act which will mandate users to pay royalty to the creator everytime his work is used.

Besides Aamir and Akhtar, the other members in the committee are Boney Kapoor, Mukesh Bhatt, Vishal Bharadwaj, Vishal Dadlani, Prasoon Joshi, Anjum Rajabli, Madhu Manthena and Bhushan Kumar.