Bollywood actor Anupam Kher was on Wednesday appointed as the chairman of Film and Television Institute of India in Pune.
Anupam Kher, who has been a former chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification and the National School of Drama, replaces Gajendra Chauhan whose tenure ended on March 3 this year. Gajendra was appointed to the post in June 2015. However, following vociferous protests against him by the students, he could assume office only in January 2016.
On becoming the chairman of FTII, Anupam Kher said, “I feel deeply humbled and honoured to be apportioned as the Chairman of iconic FTII. I will perform my duties to the best of my abilities.”
Meanwhile, film personalities welcomed the appointment of Anupam Kher as FTII chairman. While Prakash Jha tweeted, “Welcome step! After @prasoonjoshi_ @AnupamPkher !! Moving in the right direction. Thank you for this @smritiirani ”, Madhur Bhandarkar said, “Heartiest congratulations to @Anupamkher sir for being appointed as the Chairman of FTII .”
Talking about FTII and former chairman Gajendra Chauhan, Anupam had earlier said, “I personally feel that FTII represents a certain art form. It does certainly need a person having a great body of work which means he is supposed to know world cinema. He is supposed to know the present state of cinema like editing. But certainly, FTII needs somebody who is much more qualified than whatever Ganjendra ji’s qualifications are coming across. I certainly do not think Gajendra ji is qualified as a producer, director or actor.”
62-year-old actor Anupam Kher, a recipient of the Padma Shri in 2004 and Padma Bhushan in 2016, is best known for his roles in Saaransh, Daddy, Ram Lakhan, Lamhe, Khel, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara and A Wednesday among others. He has also acted in international films like Bend It Like Beckham, Bride and Prejudice, Silver Linings Playbook and The Big Sick. In 2002, he went behind the camera for Om Jai Jagadish.

Source – The Indian Express