Senior actor Anupam Kher on Wednesday resigned as the chairman of the Film and Television Institute of India, citing a busy schedule due to his international assignments.
“It has been an honour, a privilege and a great learning experience to be the chairman of the prestigious FTII,” Kher said. “But because of my international assignments I won’t have much time to devote at the institute. Hence, decided to send my resignation.”
Kher sent his resignation to Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore. A show for which he has been shooting in the United States has been given an extension of four months, due to which the actor will be based abroad for nine months between 2018 and 2019, Kher said. The actor is currently shooting for and starring in a show called New Amsterdam.
“Given this assignment, it would not be fair to me, the students and management team, for me to hold a position of such responsibility and accountability, without being actively involved in the operations,” he said.
FTII Director B Kainthola thanked Kher for his leadership and guidance and said it had been a privilege to work with him. “He [Kher] had an empathetic ear for concerns [and] issues of [the] institute,” ANI quoted Kainthola as saying.
Kher was appointed to chairperson of the Pune-based institute in October 2017, succeeding television actor Gajendra Chauhan, whose term was mired in controversy. The FTII chairman usually holds office for three years.
Kher was previously been the chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification and the National School of Drama. He was awarded with the Padma Shri in 2004 and the Padma Bhushan in 2016.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!