Film-maker Shekhar Kapur feels, his new appointment as President FTII-Pune is “also a huge responsibility”

Chaitanya Padukone

Debonair actor-cum-model-turned international-level director-producer Shekhar Kapur has just been appointed President of the FTII-Pune ( Film & Television Institute) and Chairman of the FTII Governing Council by the I & B Ministry as confirmed by the I & B Minister Mr. Prakash Javadekar. Reacting to the prestigious Sarkari appointment, the outspoken Shekhar reacted with “it’s a huge responsibility too”.

Previously the bearded film-maker has tweeted “Neither prejudiced by the past, nor in fear of the future. This moment. Only this moment.” The 74 year old charismatic ‘Padma Shri’ Kapur will succeed the outgoing FTII president producer-director Mr B.P.Singh ( of ‘CID’ longest running crime-time TV show fame), Interestingly, (legendary Dev Anand’s nephew) Shekhar is a qualified Chartered Accountant ( from England) and was a management consultant who switched careers to plunge into acting ( Hindi movies like Jaan Haazir Hai , Ishq Ishq Ishq, and Toote Khilone and TV shows like Udaan).

Later on he realized his potential for direction and having debut-directed the cult classic musical ‘Masoom’ produced by Devi Dutt, went on to add luminous feathers to his directorial career-crown including landmark cult movies Mr.India , Bandit Queen and of course several international ventures including Elizabeth and later on Elizabeth—The Golden Age.

More recently as an ‘actor’ Shekhar was seen in Kamal Haasan’s movies Vishwarooop I & II” in striking roles of a suave R.A.W Agent. Jogging into a flashback mode, ‘Masoom’ producer Devi Dutt shares a nostalgic rare photograph and says , “My co-producer wife Chanda Dutt and I heartily congratulate Shekhar Kapur for being appointed President of FTII Pune. I have plenty of fond memories of my movie Masoom.

On our way to urgently meet Financer Suresh Shah , the enthusiastic Shekhar narrated the ‘Masoom’ story to me, which was adapted from the novel ‘Man, Woman and Child’. The Financier said he would give director Shekhar just 15 minutes to narrate the subject as he had to rush elsewhere.

I recall that Shekhar was so good at story telling that Financier Shah got totally engrossed - it went on for over 90 minutes Shah was totally satisfied and Shekhar Kapur was given his signing amount cheque. We then signed Gulzar-saab for screenplay,dialogue and lyrics and RD Burman as Music Director. Our musical-hit classic Masoom (1983) starring Naseer-Shabana-Jugal Hansraj went on to win

five Filmfare Awards !,” smiles mentor Devi Dutt (legendary Guru Dutt’s younger brother).