Salman Khan at a promotional event for Bajrangi Bhaijaan in Mumbai on July 16. This image was posted on Twitter by @ANI_news
Bollywood actor Salman Khan, his father, screenwriter Salim Khan and director Kabir Khan are the latest in the voices from Bollywood to weigh in on the controversy over the appointment of actor Gajendra Chauhan as the chairman of the Pune-based Film and Television Institute of India (FTII).
At a promotional event for his upcoming film
Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Salman said, "I think he should listen to the students because the students have made the industry what it is and some of them were rusticated as well." The students of FTII have been on strike for over a month now. They say that Mr Chauhan, best-known for playing Yudhishtira in TV's
Mahabharata, is not qualified for the job.
Salman's father Salim Khan said, "Wherever I'm not invited or welcome, I would never like to stay in such a place. There is so much opposition, people don't want him, so he must withdraw from the situation in dignity." Kabir Khan also advised Mr Chauhan to 'have the dignity to step back himself.'
"The gentleman concerned should have the dignity to step back himself. You cannot demand respect. He should have to step back himself. It's unfortunate that political appointments in institutions of education. As far as rusticating students is concerned it is absurd," he said.
On Wednesday, Mr Chauhan warned students that failing to end the strike would result in expulsion.
The Khans are the latest Bollywood voices to join the chorus of protests. On Twitter, actor Rishi Kapoor advised Mr Chauhan retire voluntarily. Anupam Kher, Sudhir Mishra, and FTII alumni Resul Pookutty and Saeed Mirza have also spoken out against the appointment. Others, like former FTII chairman Shyam Benegal and BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha, have suggested mediation. Mr Benegal told NDTV that students should engage in dialogue with Mr Chauhan, saying, "Credentials are not everything. Chauhan may not have credentials, but maybe he is capable. Students should find out Chauhan's capability, he is unknown entity."