‘ANUPAM KHER PERFECT AS FTII CHAIRMAN’

Actor Anupam Kher has been appointed as the new chairman of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, and soon as the news broke, social media erupted in a stream of wishes and congratulations for the thespian. Meanwhile, HT spoke to former FTII chairman, Gajendra Chauhan, who feels that Anupam Kher is the perfect choice for the said position. Chauhan shares that having known Kher for a long time, he is confident that the latter will do well in his new role. “Given the kind of person Anupam Kher is, he will do well. I have congratulated him through [social] media, but I am looking forward to wishing him personally. To head an institute like FTII, one doesn’t need to be an actor or director, but a good administrator,” Chauhan says. The actor, visibly miffed with those reporting that he was replaced by Kher, wrote on Twitter, “I hv not been axed. I completed my tenure in Mar 2017. Some channels are doing wrong reporting (sic)”. In January 2016, FTII students and alumni had protested against Chauhan’s appointment, even boycotting classes for 139 days. However, Chauhan clarifies, “This [protest] was before I started doing my work. I worked towards improving the course and helped old students complete their diplomas. Soon, things were under control,” says Chauhan, adding that his work was acknowledged in the latest CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General of India) report. However, Chauhan regrets that he got very less time to work at the FTII. “I was chairman for just over a year to work for the betterment of the institute. I have moved on in life, and am enjoying my current responsibility and films,” he says.

Given the kind of person Anupam Kher is, he will do well. To head an institute like FTII, one needs to be a good administrator GAJENDRA CHAUHAN, ACTOR