Ex-FTII chairperson Gajendra Chauhan reacts to Payal Kapadia’s Cannes win: ‘Vast difference between being talented and being disciplined’

In 2015, disciplinary action was taken against the Grand Prix winning director for protesting against the appointment of Gajendra as the institute’s president
Ex-FTII chairperson Gajendra Chauhan reacts to Payal Kapadia’s Cannes win: ‘Vast difference between being talented and being disciplined’
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A lot of conversation is being done on how filmmaker Payal Kapadia, who recently won the Grand Prix, the second highest accolade at the Cannes Film festival, for her film All We Imagine as Light, was once at the receiving end of a disciplinary action by her alma mater, Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), for protesting against the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as the institute’s president in 2015. Actors and industry people, including Ali Fazal, have also called out FTII for their double standards as they are now congratulating the acclaimed director for her win.

Now, Gajendra, who played the role of Yudhishthira in the television series Mahabharat, has spoken about Payal’s victory on the world stage and the disciplinary action that was taken against her.

In an interview with Times Now, Gajendra said, “I would just like to say, we are all very proud of her. I would like to congratulate her for her achievement.” When asked about Payal’s opposition to his appointment, he said that the “matter is in court now” and added, “Let me tell you, there is a vast difference between being talented and being disciplined. Talent is all very fine but being disciplined is also very important.”

“I don’t remember correctly if her name was on the chargesheet. But a large group of students had held and confined, actually hijacked, then-FTII director Prashant Pathrabe. He was diabetic and was held against his will for 12-14 hrs,” he added.

As per reports, Pune Police had filed a chargesheet against Payal and 34 other students for holding then-FTII director Prashant Pathrabe “captive”. She, along with other students, was denied scholarships and later arrested.

In 2017, however, then FTII director Bhupendra Kainthola reversed the earlier stance and funded Payal’s travel to Cannes for her documentary short film, A Night of Knowing Nothing for which she won the ‘le prix du documentaire’ for Best Documentary.

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