As students protest, former chairman says Kher right choice
Former FTII chairman Gajendra Chauhan on Wednesday told HT that he feels Anupam Kher is the perfect choice for the position.
Chauhan shared that having known Kher for a long time, he is confident that the latter will do extremely well in his new role. “Given the kind of person Anupam is, I think he will do really well. I am yet to congratulate him but I want to personally meet and wish him. To head an institute like FTII, one doesn’t have to be just an actor or director but a good administrator,” said Chauhan.
Meanwhile, FTII students termed Kher’s appointment “another joke”, saying the development is another crazy move by the government. Speaking to HT, outgoing student Harishankar Nachumuthu, who headed the 139-day-long strike to oppose Chauhan’s appointment earlier, said, “How can Kher head FTII when he is already running a private acting school?”
Nachimuthu said the students do not see any difference between Chauhan and Kher. Known for his role in various films, Kher is known to be rightwing, with his wife, Kirron, a BJP MP from Chandigarh.
“For us there is no difference between Kher and Chauhan. We had expected this from the government,” said Nachimuthu.
Another FTII student, on condition of anonymity, said the government at the Centre could have come up with other names.
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