Gajendra Chauhan, best known for essaying the role of 'Yudhishthir' in BR Chopra's "Mahabharat", was appointed as FTII chairman on June 9, 2015. (Press Trust of India file photo)
As Gajendra Chauhan gets ready to take charge of Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) today, its students are planning a protest at the campus in Pune. 17 of them have been issued notices by the police, warning them of cancellation of bail in case of any protests.
The actor and the BJP member was appointed the chairman of the top film institute on June 9, 2015. His appointment was followed by a series of protests by students and celebrated alumni of the institute. Some had even gone on an indefinite strike as they questioned his "professional credibility" to lead the institute due to lack of "stature" and "vision". They finally withdrew the strike in October, after 139 days.
"I have been ordered by the government and I will do my job. Let me go there and see. I can't comment on what they will do, but I am ready to do my job," Mr Chauhan said yesterday.
The 59-year-old, who will be joining office seven months after his appointment, will chair his first FTII Society meeting today. "We will be finalising the governing council and then other agenda will be discussed," Mr Chauhan told IANS.
"He (Chauhan) is coming... that is confirmed, but we have not got any official intimation. There will be protests obviously, but we have not decided other things. There will be some protest at the campus tomorrow (Thursday)," Harishankar Nachimuthu, President of FTII Students' Association, told IANS.
Best known for essaying the role of 'Yudhishthir' in BR Chopra's "Mahabharat", Mr Chauhan has also appeared in small roles in films like "Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge" and "Baghban".