New Delhi: On Tuesday, noted filmmaker Shekhar Kapur was appointed president of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) Society based in Pune and chairman of the governing council of the Institute, an official said. Bhupendra Kainthola, FTII Director, said the appointment of Shekhar Kapur was announced by the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The 74-year-old filmmaker's term, the official said, will be until March 3, 2023. The critically acclaimed director and actor, who was born in Lahore , Pakistan, on December 6, 1945, is known for films such as Elizabeth (1998), Bandit Queen (1994) and The Four Feathers (2002).

The 1983 film Masoom, starring Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi and Urmila Matondkar, was directed by Shekhar Kapur. Prakash Javadekar, Minister of Information and Broadcasting, tweeted, "Glad to announce that renowned foreign film personality Shekhar Kapur has been named President of the FTII Society and Chairman of the FTII Board of Governors." Kapur, who has extensive experience, would give the institute more importance. "I'm sure everyone would welcome his nomination," he added. "If FTII Society and Chairman of the FTII Governing Council before March 3, 2023, the Government of India nominates Shri Shekhar Kapur as President," the I&B ministry order, tweeted by Prakash Javadekar, said. After Bollywood actor Anupam Kher resigned in October 2018 as the chairman of the premier institute, B P Singh, producer-director o o producer-director of popular TV serial CID, was named president of FTII Society and Chairman of Governing Council in December 2018.