Expressing disappointment with government's response to their demand, students of the FTII decided to continue their strike which entered the 24th day today till TV actor and BJP member Gajendra Chauhan's appointment as its chairman is cancelled.
Amid dramatic scenes and vociferous demonstrations by the Film and Television Institute of India students, television actor and Bharatiya Janata Party member Gajendra Chauhan on Thursday took charge as chairman of the premiere institute in Pune, even as police detained nearly 40 protesters who were calling him a "political appointee".
The 71st National Awards were presented at the Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on Tuesday, September 23, 2025.
An FTII students' body representative said they will not sacrifice academics anymore for a government that is "deaf and a bully".
TV actor Gajendra Chauhan is expected to take charge as FTII chairman on Thursday after an unprecedented and unsuccessful 193-day strike by the students opposing his appointment.
A second round of talks in Mumbai on Thursday between the striking FTII students and I&B Ministry officials failed to break the deadlock.
The students said they would withdraw their hunger strike to pave way for a dialogue with the government if the I&B ministry confirmed a date for talks to resolve their demands including removal of actor Gajendra Chauhan from the institute's chairmanship.
This is Gajendra Chauhan's resume: ...an actor who is best known for his portrayal of the eldest Pandava 'Yudhishthira' in the Mahabharat (TV series). He has worked in around 150 movies and over 600 TV serials
When contacted, Pathrabe had told PTI earlier in the evening that he had been gheraoed by the students, but was "safe".
Yet another round of talks on Tuesday failed to end the standoff between the government and FTII students over the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as its Chairman, with the students alleging "unwillingness or inability" of the authorities to act upon their core concerns.
The meeting will take place at the office of the Films Division in Mumbai at 11 am on Tuesday, Vikas Urs, spokesman of the FTII Students' Association, told PTI.
...Because the students have made our industry worthy, Salman Khan explains.
The ongoing strike of Film and Television Institute of India students to protest the government's appointment of TV actor Gajendra Chauhan as chairman of its governing council entered its 12th day Tuesday with no immediate solution in sight.
Deadlock over the appointment of TV actor and Bharatiya Janata Party member Gajendra Chauhan as chairman of the Film and Television Institute of India's governing council entered the sixteenth day on Saturday
I&B ministry refuses to respond to striking FTII students, who insist that Gajendra Chauhan has to go.
Unfazed by warning of disciplinary action and rustication, the striking students of Film and Television Institute of India on Thursday said the protest, now on for 35 days, will continue till the government responds to their demands, including removal of TV actor Gajendra Chauhan as its chairman.
The agitating FTII students on Sunday called off their 18-day-old "hunger strike" in response to the government's communication inviting them for a dialogue.
'Mrs shows a dark side to the son and the father.' 'I had to do things that I wouldn't dare to do in real life.'
The students will now be meeting Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore next week.
The govt also said that there would be no rethink on the government's decision of appointing Gajendra Chauhan as chairman.
'I will try to make sure everything runs smoothly from now on.' Is Gajendra Chauhan having the last laugh?
About 150 students gathered on the campus on Sunday to gather support for their agitation.
10 frontline filmmakers announced their decision to return the prestigious National Awards over the government's "apathy" in addressing the students issues and the environment of intolerance.
'I have always looked at people and said, 'You just have to accept. You just have to love. You just have to let this person be and the trouble would be less.' 'But we keep complicating things, and that is the tragedy -- our desire not to understand.'
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi told protesting Film and Television Institute of India students in Pune on Friday that the National Democratic Alliance regime is trying to undermine the institution.
'Hope is about being more accepting of each other, the kind of solidarity and friendship that even our families may not be able to give.'
Intensifying their protest, three students of the Film and Television Institute of India have gone on hunger strike demanding the resignation of Gajendra Chauhan.
They accused the government of resorting to all kinds of measures, including character assassination.
Filmmaker Shyam Benegal, who as FTII chairman was himself gheraoed by students, gives us his point of view on the crisis facing India's premier film school.
Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday slammed the government over the arrest of protesting Film and Television Institute of India students, telling Prime Minister Narendra Modi that they are not criminals.
'Thank you to the Cannes Film Festival for having our film here. Please don't wait 30 years to have another Indian film.'
The Army chief said the nation is passing through a challenging period.
'I defy all the controversy. For me, it is meaningless. They say the students are unhappy that I have been appointed as the head of FTII. They have not seen my work so how can they be unhappy?' Gajendra Chauhan tries to justify his appointment to head the prestigious Film and Television Institute of India.
Aseem Chhabra lists 10 of his favourite films that played in various sections at the 74th Cannes Film Festival.
A group of academics and scholars on Friday expressed their outrage and anger against the "assault on academic and constitutional freedom", joining the recent protests by writers, artistes, filmmakers, historians and scientists over "rising intolerance".
'What can I do for my India except make films that showcase it's greatness to the world, which touch on national issues and arouse the feeling of patriotism?'
'He had a continuing interest in life, people, and the society in which he lived,' remembers Shyam Benegal, who collaborated with the polyglot playwright and actor through the 1970s and remained his friend for more than five decades.
'Will you take a Mercedes Benz or Rolex watches or fancy shoes to your grave?'
'The producer will wear these gold ornaments, but they will not part with Rs 30,000 or Rs 50,000 to pay the writer.'
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances