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.”
