Anupam Kher appointed FTII chairman

Veteran actor Anupam Kher has been appointed chairman of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), succeeding the controversial head of the Pune-based institute, Gajendra Chauhan, the ministry of information and broadcasting announced today.

ANUPAM KHER

Earlier he served as the chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and was the director of National School of Drama from 2001 to 2004. He is also an alumnus of National School of Drama (1978 batch).

A veteran actor, Anupam Kher has won many national and international awards, including the 'Filmfare Award for Best Performance in a Comic Role' five times. He has appeared in acclaimed international films such as the 2002 Golden Globe nominated Bend It Like Beckham, 2007 Golden Lion award-winning Lust, Caution and 2013 Oscar-winning Silver Linings Playbook.

He has appeared in over 500 films and in more than 100 plays and has also authored the book 'The Best Thing about You Is You'.

Kher is a recipient of the Padma Shri in 2004 and the Padma Bhushan in 2016 for his contribution in the field of cinema and arts.

Born on 7 March 1955, in Shimla, Kher completed his education from the D A V School in the city.

Considered one of the Hindi film industry's most prolific and versatile actors, Kher made his acting debut in 1982 with "Aagman", but the 1984 Mahesh Bhatt film "Saaransh" was his breakout role.

Then just 28, Kher played the role of a retired middle class man grappling with his son's death.

Kher is one of the few Indian actors to have crossed over to international cinema with 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 also written and starred in a play about his own life called "Kucch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai", which was directed by Feroz Abbas Khan.

Kher's colleagues and contemporaries congratulated the actor on his new appointment.

FTII is an autonomous body under the ministry of information and broadcasting and is regarded as a centre of excellence across the world. Films made by FTII students have enjoyed excellent receptions in festivals in India and abroad and have won national and international awards.