Naseeruddin Shah to take over FTII?
A source close to the I & B Ministry says, We would love to have Naseer bhai take over.
The sudden resignation of Anupam Kher, as the chairperson of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), has left a prestigious and important post vacant. Who’s next? Apparently, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is considering Naseeruddin Shah. A source close to the I & B Ministry says, “We would love to have Naseer bhai take over. He is a phenomenal talent, articulate, clued in and hard-headed and a terrific administrator. He’s perfect for the role.”
Naseer is apparently reluctant to step into any government job. But that won’t deter the powers-that-be from trying. Shatrughan Sinha, who has been offered the post twice in the past, says he isn’t surprised by Anupam’s resignation. “If you remember, I had expressed my misgivings regarding Anupam’s schedules. He had so much on his plate already. I wondered if he would be able to give time to this work. Looking after the FTII is not a part-time job. It requires a man of great cinematic knowledge and administrative skills. It also requires a professional who would be able to work for monstrous hours every day, seven days a week. Grooming and supervising new cinematic talent is not a job. It requires the discipline of a religious practice.”