Anupam Kher succeeds Gajendra Chauhan as new chairman of Film and Television Institute of India, Pune

National Award winner and veteran actor Anupam Kher has been appointed as the new chairman of the Film and Television Institute of India.

Kher succeeds Gajendra Chauhan, whose appointment had sparked outrage among students of India's premiere film institute.

The 62-year-old, best remembered for his stellar performances in 'Daddy', 'Saransh', has held the post of chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification and the National School of Drama.

Kher was awarded Padma Shri in 2004 and Padma Bhushan last year.

Kher's predecessor Gajendra Chauhan's 2-year term ended in March earlier this year.

The TV actor and BJP member was named for the post of Chairman in June 2015.

However, his appointment had sparked a controversy and the students of FTII had gone on a strike for more than four months. The actor finally took charge as Chairman of the premiere institute in Pune on January 7, 2016, while the police detained protesters calling him a 'political appointee'.   

Notwithstanding with all the controversies, Chauhan had said that he was happy with what he had achieved. Some of major 'achievements' included reintroducing campus discipline, getting approval for converting the post-graduate diploma into a master’s degree, passing the budget to improve the institute’s infrastructure, among other things.