Entertainment News: Gajendra Chauhan Proudly Remembers Chairmanship During Payal Kapadia’s Time at FTII

Gajendra Chauhan, the actor-politician who served as the chairman of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), expressed his pride in Cannes winner Payal Kapadia, who studied at the institute during his tenure. Kapadia recently made history by becoming the first Indian filmmaker to win the Grand Prix award at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival for her film “All We Imagine As Light”.

Interestingly, Kapadia was one of the protesting students who opposed Chauhan’s appointment as the chairperson of FTII back in 2015. Despite the past differences, Chauhan congratulated Kapadia on her remarkable achievement and stated, “I feel proud that I was the chairman at the time when she was doing the course there.”

Reflecting on the protests against his appointment, Chauhan mentioned that the students’ opposition was not directed towards him but rather towards the director and administration of FTII. He emphasized that he was appointed by the government of India and completed his tenure without resigning or being sacked.

Kapadia’s documentary “A Night of Knowing Nothing” captures the protests at FTII, shedding light on the challenges faced by the students during that period. Her winning film at Cannes marks a significant milestone for Indian cinema, being the first Indian entry in the festival’s main competition in three decades.

Despite the past controversies and differences, both Chauhan and Kapadia have now found common ground in celebrating the success and recognition of Indian cinema on the global stage.