Anupam Kher quits as FTII chairperson, cites busy schedule as reason

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New Delhi: Actor Anupam Kher on Wednesday resigned as the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) chairperson. He cited his busy schedule and commitments to international projects as the reason behind his move.

In his resignation letter to Information and Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, he said that due to his commitment to shows, he will be stationed in the US for "nearly nine months between 2018 and 2019 and then for a similar period for a minimum of three years more".

"Given this assignment it would not be fair to me, the students and management team, for me to hold a position of such responsibility and accountability, without being actively involved in the operations," he said in his resignation letter.

His resignation has been accepted by Rathore who thanked him for his service to the institute.

Tweeting about it, Kher wrote that it was 'an honour, a privilege and a great learning experience to be the Chairman of the prestigious institute'. "It has been an honour, a privilege and a great learning experience to be the Chairman of the prestigious FTII. But because of my international assignments, I won`t have much time to devote at the institute. Hence decided to send my resignation," his post read.

It has been an honour, a privilege & a great learning experience to be the Chairman of the prestigious @FTIIOfficial. But because of my international assignments I won't have much time to devote at the institute. Hence decided to send my resignation. Thank you. _ @Ra_THORe pic.twitter.com/lglcREeYM2 — Anupam Kher (@AnupamPKher) October 31, 2018

Kher took over as the FTII chief in October 2017 after controversial chairman Gajender Singh Chouhan's tenure as the head of Pune-based premiere institute ended in March 2017.

He is a graduate from Delhi's National School of Drama (NSD). He was conferred the Padma Shri in 2004 and the Padma Bhushan in 2016 for his contribution in the field of cinema and arts. He is also the chairman of an acting institute, 'Anupam Kher's Actor Prepares'.

He is currently working in the US on American show 'New Amsterdam'.