New Delhi: Actor Vijay Varma has mocked former FTII President Gajendra Chauhan for his comment on Payal Kapadia's Cannes win. The actor, an alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), took a jab at the institute's former chairman, Gajendra Chauhan, for claiming to be "proud" of filmmaker Payal Kapadia following her historic Cannes win for her film All We Imagine As Light last week.
Vijay Varma mocks Gajendra Chauhan
Vijay Varma couldn't resist commenting on the situation. He posted Chauhan's statement along with the popular meme "Karwali bezzati? (Got insulted?)" and wrote, "Sir, ye chup rehne ka time tha (Sir, this was the time to stay silent)," adding a giggle emoji.
Payal Kapadia vs Gajendra Chauhan
Back in 2015, Kapadia was among the students who protested and went on strike against Chauhan's appointment as the chairperson of the Pune-based FTII. In an interview with PTI, Chauhan said, "Congratulations to her, and I feel proud that I was the chairman at the time when she was doing the course there." The statement quickly went viral, with many highlighting the irony.
Payal Kapadia, along with her fellow batchmates, participated in a 139-day protest against the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as chairman. The students boycotted classes, which led to disciplinary action against them. She was among 35 students whose names were listed in a complaint filed by the then-FTII director Prashant Pathrabe for alleged forcible detention. A few days later, the Pune Police arrested seven students, while many others, including Kapadia, obtained anticipatory bail.
Commenting on Kapadia's win, Chauhan said to PTI, "She has never said anything about me. What can I say then? That protest was not against me, it was against the director and the administration. I was appointed by the government of India. I did a lot of work at FTII and the media has never reported about any of it.”
Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine As Light
Payal Kapadia's captivating drama 'All We Imagine as Light' clinched the Grand Prix at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, etching her name in cinematic history. This film, depicting the journey of two nurses from Kerala navigating modern-day Mumbai, created a milestone as the first Indian film to feature in the main category at Cannes in three decades.