The Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) is India’s premier film and television institute, and has produced several legendary actors in Indian cinema. Over its nearly 60 year-old-history, FTII has had some notable actors as its Chairman. On the eve of Anupam Kher’s appointment as the new FTII Chairman, Corporate Citizen brings you all the actor chairmen in the FTII’s illustrious history
The most well-known FTII chairman has been the late superstar Vinod Khanna. Vinod Khanna ruled Bollywood in the 1970s and 80s, before taking a sabbatical at the peak of his career in 1982. Having acted in over a hundred films, Vinod Khanna is known for his performances in superhit movies like Mera Gaon Mera Desh and Amar Akbar Anthony. He was last seen in the 2015 Shah Rukh Khan starrer Dilwale, before passing away in April 2017 to cancer. One of Bollywoods first true stars, Vinod Khanna will always be remembered as one of the finest actors to grace the silver screen.
Gajendra Chauhan, though not in the league of the other actors on the list, has also had a presence on celluloid. He is best known for his portrayal of Yudhishthira in the historical television series, Mahabharat (1988–90). He has also appeared in some minor roles in Bollywood movies; however, he has been in the news less for his acting and more for the controversy when he was appointed Chairman in 2015. A large section of the students opposed his appointment due to a perceived lack of credentials. The controversy refused to die down until eventually he was replaced in 2017 by Anupam Kher.
Anupam Kher is one of the most versatile actors in world cinema. He has acted in over 500 films in several languages. His finest role came from his second movie Saaransh, where 28-year-old Kher played a retired middle-class Maharashtrian man who has lost his son. Since then, Kher has acted as a villain, comedian and even as a leading man in movies (A Wednesday). He has also appeared in acclaimed international films such as the 2002 Golden Globe nominated Bend It Like Beckham, Ang Lee's 2007 Golden Lion-winning Lust, Caution, and David O. Russell’s 2013 Oscar-winning Silver Linings Playbook. Kher has won the Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role five times. For his performance in the 1988 film Vijay he won the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Girish Karnad is one of the most acclaimed actors, writers, and directors in India. He made his acting debut in Kannada movie Samskara in 1970, but he is known in Bollywood for his roles in Nishaant (1975), Manthan (1976), Swami (1977) and Pukar (2000). He has acted in a number of Nagesh Kukunoor films, starting with Iqbal (2005), where Karnad's role of the ruthless cricket coach got him critical acclaim. This was followed by Dor (2006), 8 x 10 Tasveer (2009), with lead actor Akshay Kumar and Aashayein (2010). Karnad has been awarded the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan by the Government of India and won four Filmfare Awards, of which three are Filmfare Award for Best Director — Kannada and the fourth a Filmfare Best Screenplay Award.
By Neeraj Varty
