File Photo: Actress Richa Chadha
Actress Richa Chadha and "Masaan" director Neeraj Ghaywan today said the ongoing agitation against Gajendra Chauhan as Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) chairman is not a battle of ideologies and the "Mahabharat" actor should resign from the post.
"... if the protesting students don't want him, he should resign. It is not Right versus the Left. The thing is people are questioning the credibility of Gajendra Chauhan. They have nothing against him personally," Ms Chadha told PTI in an interview.
Mr Ghaywan feels a chairman should be someone who inspires the students.
"It is a clear, no-brainer that he should resign. It is not about a certain ideology or a particular ideology or the RSS. It is a simple fact that the students don't feel inspired by him," said the director, who is in the city to promote "Masaan".
Ms Chadha said a person who is holding FTII chairman's post should have a good understanding of cinematic creativity.
"If somebody has been appointed, they must have a good understanding of cinema, creativity, and not just ideology, she said.
"The government has good understanding of ideology, not of cinema and aesthetics. So, many capable people who are good actors, directors and cinematographers- all of others who are capable should assume the mantle to take the institution to the next level."
Neeraj Ghaywan said Mr Chauhan does not inspire FTII students like Adoor Gopalakrihnan, Shyam Benegal and Gulzar did as the institute's chairmen.
"As a chairman one should inspire the way Adoor Gopalkrishnan, Gulzar Sahab and Shyam Bengal did. With this kind of repertoire I don't think it is inspiring enough to have Chauhan as FTII Chairman... for me that is the only reason," he said.
FTII students have been agitating for the removal of Mr Chauhan, a BJP member, for over a month now.