Bollywood actor Anupam Kher was today appointed chairman of the Film and Television Institute of India, Information and Broadcasting ministry officials said. Anupam Kher replaces Gajendra Chauhan, who had a controversial tenure as head of the Pune-based institute. His term had ended in March. A notification regarding Kher's appointment has been issued, officials said.

Anupam Kher

The students of the institution were unhappy with Chauhan's controversial appointment as the Chairman, which led to an unprecedented 139-day strike. The students, later, called off the strike as it affected their academics, but the President of the FTII student association had earlier told mid-day, "We have been struggling with this issue for almost five months. I think our voice has reached the masses, but our pleas to the government have certainly fallen on deaf ears. During our agitation, many renowned personalities have come forward to support us. Our agitation will continue with these personalities and other former students."

The strike definitely raised an alarm in the film industry, and several National Award winners went on an award-returning spree, and many of the FTII alumni, part of Bollywood, also raised their opinion on having a person from the film industry as the Chairman, who would understand the dynamics of this creative field in a better manner.