Anupam Kher named FTII’s new chairman
Veteran actor Anupam Kher was named chairman of the Film and Television Institute of India by the Union information and broadcasting ministry on Wednesday.
Kher replaces Gajendra Chauhan, who had a controversial tenure as head of the institute in Pune. A notification on Kher’s appointment has been issued, sources said.
The appointment was much delayed as the controversial FTII chairman’s tenure had ended in March. Gajendra Chauhan was appointed FTII chairman in June 2015. Students of the institute opposed this move, claiming he was not fit for the job and landed up getting the position for being a BJP leader. Students went on an indefinite strike to oppose his appointment and the agitation ended only after 139 days.
During the long and politically charged agitation by students, several political leaders, including Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, had also visited the FTII campus in Pune. Due to the long drawn out student turmoil and constant opposition during his tenure, Chauhan only visited the institute once and that too for assuming charge. Due to the constant trouble faced by Chauhan, it is understood all governing council meetings during his tenure were conducted in
Mumbai. Sources said the I&B ministry was not keen on stoking another confrontation with students of the institute and chose Kher to head FTII. Kher has served as chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification and was director of the National School of Drama from 2001 to 2004. He is also an alumnus of NSD (1978 batch).
Kher has appeared in over 500 films and is a recipient of the Padma Shri in 2004 and Padma Bhushan in 2016 for his contribution in the field of cinema and the arts. The veteran star has won many national and international awards, including the Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role five times. He appeared in acclaimed international films such as the 2002 Golden Globenominated Bend It Like Beckham (2007), the Golden Lion award-winning Lust, Caution and the 2013 Oscar-winning Silver Linings Playbook. He has appeared in over 100 plays and also authored the book The Best Thing about You Is You.
FTII is an autonomous body under the I&B ministry and is regarded as a centre of excellence around the world.
Films by FTII students have had an excellent reception in festivals in India and overseas and have won national and international awards.