The furore over the appointment of actor and BJP member Gajendra Chauhan as the chairman of the prestigious Film and Television Institute has now entered its sixth day, with students on strike demanding his resignation.
The bone of contention is that Chauhan, who is best known for playing Yudhisthira in BR Chopra's 'Mahabharata' TV series, is not the kind of visionary that befits the institute's legacy. An official statement from the FTII Students' Association, which has been shared widely across social media, asserts that Chauhan "lacks academic, administrative and artistic credentials in the fields of Art and Film education". Previous appointees to this post include acclaimed filmmakers like Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Girish Karnad, and Shyam Benegal.
Read: Gajendra Chauhan Says Protests By FTII Students Are Politically Motivated
Now, a video uploaded by NewsLaundry on Wednesday has given the conflict a little more context by editing together clips from Chauhan's checkered acting and political career. These include clips of him more often than not playing a would-be rapist from numerous B- and C-grade films as well as speeches made on stage as a BJP member. At one point, he is seen introducing, with sundry flowery adjectives, the controversial religious leader Asaram Bapu, who was accused of sexual assault in 2013.
Watch the video above.
![]()
Like Us On Facebook |
![]()
Follow Us On Twitter |
![]()
Contact HuffPost India
The bone of contention is that Chauhan, who is best known for playing Yudhisthira in BR Chopra's 'Mahabharata' TV series, is not the kind of visionary that befits the institute's legacy. An official statement from the FTII Students' Association, which has been shared widely across social media, asserts that Chauhan "lacks academic, administrative and artistic credentials in the fields of Art and Film education". Previous appointees to this post include acclaimed filmmakers like Adoor Gopalakrishnan, Girish Karnad, and Shyam Benegal.
The official statement from the FTII Students Association. pic.twitter.com/ojJGC0LuKe
— Raja Sen (@RajaSen) June 14, 2015Read: Gajendra Chauhan Says Protests By FTII Students Are Politically Motivated
Now, a video uploaded by NewsLaundry on Wednesday has given the conflict a little more context by editing together clips from Chauhan's checkered acting and political career. These include clips of him more often than not playing a would-be rapist from numerous B- and C-grade films as well as speeches made on stage as a BJP member. At one point, he is seen introducing, with sundry flowery adjectives, the controversial religious leader Asaram Bapu, who was accused of sexual assault in 2013.
Watch the video above.
Like Us On Facebook | 
Follow Us On Twitter | 
Contact HuffPost India