Hindi
Shekhar Kapur to head Pune-based FTII
MUMBAI: The Pune-based Film & Television Institute of India (FTII) has appointed veteran filmmaker Shekhar Kapur as the president & chairman of the governing council, a position he will hold till March 2023.
Information & broadcasting minister Prakash Javadekar made the announcement on Twitter. He also stated that that Kapur will add value to the institute.
Happy to inform that renowned international film personality #ShekharKapur has been appointed as the President of FTII Society & Chairman of Governing Council of FTII.@narendramodi @shekharkapur pic.twitter.com/lARfoDW4b9
— Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) September 29, 2020
Kapur, in turn, thanked the government for the posting.
Thank you Sir, for the honor. We are a land of stories. Of creativity. And of such varied culture. With your support, and combined with modern technologies, i see a future where our creative talent takes our stories and wins the hearts and minds of people worldwide
— Shekhar Kapur (@shekharkapur) September 29, 2020
He replaces BP Singh who was appoiinted president n 2018. Singh is best known as the producer of the long-running Sony TV show CID and was recently appointed by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) to its general assembly.
Several industry stalwarts and organisations gave their thums up to Kapur’s appointment.
hearty congratulations hon minister @PrakashJavdekar for entrusting our esteemed film maker @shekharkapur as chairman of governing council of @FTIIOfficial film n television institute of india.I am sure my friend shekhar will add a great value with his vast experience. My best
— Subhash Ghai (@SubhashGhai1) September 29, 2020
Congratulations to @shekharkapur! A true master filmmaker at the helm of India’s premier film institute, FTII, will surely help India achieve excellence in cinema and find its place on the global stage at a time when filmmaking is exploding the world over.https://t.co/b7MfEegzHX
— Ranvir Shorey (@RanvirShorey) September 29, 2020
Heartfelt best wishes to you @shekharkapur .Your unmatched experience,broad vision and contemporary pathbreaking ideas will benefit many in your new role.#ShekharKapur @FTIIOfficial https://t.co/NRgBggiDtK
— Prasoon Joshi (@prasoonjoshi_) September 29, 2020
The 75-year old Kapur is well known both in India and internationally, having been involved with cinema for the past four to five decades. Some of the more critically acclaimed films he has been associated with as a producer or director include: Mr India, Bandit Queen, Queen Elizabeth, Masoom, and others. This apart, he has been the host of the TV show Pradhanmantri in 2013.
FTII is India’s leading institution for film making. Started in 1960, the institute, it is situated on the premises of the erstwhile Prabhat Studios in Pune. It has produced some of India’s finest film talents and icons. It offers a variety of courses including – direction, screenplay, cinematography, editing, direction, screen acting.
Hindi
Kridhan Infra enters film production with AI-led feature film
Infra firm debuts AI-powered film marking RSS centenary
MUMBAI: Kridhan Infra Limited is swapping hard hats for headsets. The infrastructure company has announced its entry into film production and media technology through its subsidiary, Kridhan Mediatech Private Limited, with the nationwide theatrical release of Shatak: Sangh Ke 100 Varsh, an AI-led feature film.
With Shatak, the company is not just stepping into cinema but staking a claim in what it describes as one of the world’s early full-length AI-driven feature films. Artificial Intelligence has been embedded across the creative and production process, from script visualisation and environment creation to modelling and production design.
The film commemorates 100 years of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, tracing defining moments, personalities and historical phases that shaped its journey. By combining archival storytelling with algorithm-powered creativity, the project attempts to blend heritage with high technology.
For Kridhan Mediatech, this is only the opening scene. The subsidiary’s broader ambition spans AI, CGI, virtual production systems and scalable content models for both theatres and digital platforms. The move signals a strategic diversification for Kridhan Infra, traditionally rooted in engineering and construction.
The timing aligns with India’s growing push to become a global AI powerhouse. At the 2026 AI Impact Summit, prime minister Narendra Modi urged innovators to design in India and deliver to the world. Kridhan Mediatech’s initiative positions itself squarely within that narrative, aiming to export technology-enabled storytelling beyond domestic audiences.
India’s media and entertainment industry, valued at over Rs 2.5 lakh crore, alongside a rapidly expanding AI economy projected to cross Rs 1.4 lakh crore in the coming years, offers fertile ground at the intersection of cinema and code.
“With Shatak, we proudly present one of the world’s first AI-led full-length feature films while marking our strategic entry into film production and media technology through our subsidiary,” the company said in a statement. “Our vision is to combine India’s rich narrative heritage with forward-looking innovation. This is just the beginning of building globally competitive, technology-enabled cinematic experiences.”
From infrastructure to imagination, Kridhan’s latest venture suggests that in today’s India, even storytelling can be engineered.
