Disputes harm cinema, students: Varun Dhawan on FTII row

MUMBAI: As the strike at Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) continues over the appointment of TV actor Gajendra Chauhan, Bollywood star Varun Dhawan today said such controversies only harm cinema and its students.

Students of the Pune-based film school are on a strike for more than a month demanding the removal of Chauhan, who has been appointed Chairman of the FTII Governing Council.

They have said that Chauhan, best known for playing Yudhisthir in mega TV epic 'Mahabharata', lacks the "vision and stature" to head the renowned Government-run film institute.

"My dad ( David Dhawan) is an alumni of FTII... I don't want to jump into something with which I am not associated... and I have little knowledge about. (But) I hope they (students and Centre) resolve the issue. At the end of the day,... in disputes cinema suffers, students suffer," the actor said here this evening.

The 28-year-old 'ABCD 2' star was speaking at an event organised by Philips, a healthcare, consumer lifestyle and lighting company. Varun is the first-ever brand ambassador for Philips India's shaving and body-grooming products for men.