Gajendra Chauhan said no to Bigg Boss to maintain dignity of his job
Mumbai: Actor-producer and now chairperson-in-waiting of the Film & Television Institute Of India (FTII) Gajendra Chauhan is a relieved man. Students and prominent members of the entertainment industry have been agitating against his appointment for 139 days.The strike ended on Wednesday.
But Chauhan is guarded on his expression of relief and joy. “I always maintained the students’ education should not suffer because of their displeasure over my appointment. At the same time it wasn’t my call to appoint me as the chairperson of the FTII, so it couldn’t be my decision to step down. The government in all its wisdom, thought me responsible for the job. If I was asked to resign I’d have done so readily and immediately.”
Chauhan expresses regret over the haste with which he was seen to be unfit for the job by his own colleagues in the entertainment industry. “I can understand why the students reacted the way they did. I understand the young restless mind. My son is a doctor. He was a gold medalist during college. His anxiety to excel and to create an environment of excellence are things I understand first-hand. The students of the FTII jumped to conclusions about my credentials without verifying my past, or my commitment to the job that I’ve been given.”
Chauhan says he has big plans for the FTII. He said, “I refused the offer to be on Bigg Boss just so that my job as the chairperson of the FTII won’t be compromised. I didn’t think twice before saying no to Bigg Boss. I am surprised that people within the film fraternity decided I was unfit for the job even without giving me a chance. I was appointed from June 9. The students’ agitation started on 12 June. I wish I was given an opportunity to prove myself.”
Chauhan intends to interact extensively with the students, he said, “I want to understand their problems, and try to help overcome them. I intend to devote a lot of time to my job as the chairperson of the FTII. One of the reasons I was selected was because I would be able to focus on this job. Plenty needs to be done. And I will focus on setting things right at the FTII.”
Among his achievements Chauhan admits he is a qualified para-medic. “I worked as a radiologist at the AIIMS in Delhi. In 1980 I got the chance to do Sonia Gandhiji’s brain scan. So you can say I’ve connected with some of the best minds in the country. All I want is a chance to prove I can empathize with the minds of the students at FTII.”
