According to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, actor Anupam Kher has been appointed as the new chairperson of the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune. He replaces Gajendra Chauhan, whose appointment in 2015 caused widespread protests. Among other demands, students of the institute wanted Mr. Chauhan to go.
Mr. Kher is an alumnus of the National School of Drama and has more than 500 films to his credit, including movies like Bend it Like Beckham and Silver Linings Playbook. He has also headed the Central Board of Film Certification.
In November 2015, Mr. Kher led a “March for India” to Rashtrapati Bhavan, protesting against the “growing “intolerance” against the BJP-led NDA government.