NEW DELHI, Sep 10: The noted Bollywood actor and former BJP Member of Parliament from Ahmedabad, Paresh Rawal has been appointed the chairman of the National School of Drama for the next four years.
His appointment was cleared by the president Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday.
Union culture minister Prahlad Singh Patel, under whose ambit the NSD falls while confirming his appointment congratulated the actor and said artists and students of the NSD would benefit from his talent.
A union government official said three or four candidates had been shortlisted by the ministry for the post. “The President takes the final call,” said the official.
The post of the NSD chairperson has been vacant since 2017, with vice-chairperson Dr Arjun Deo, a noted Rajasthani poet, critic, playwright, theatre director and translator, acting as chair.
Rawal has been in the film industry for more than three decades and has won numerous awards, including the prestigious National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1994. In 2014, he was conferred with the “Padma Shri” for his contribution to the entertainment industry. Rawal is famous for his roles in Hera Pheri, Phir Hera-Pheri, Andaaz Apna Apna and numerous other films. .
Rawal had won from Ahmedabad East in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls by over 3.25 lakh votes. He, however, opted out of the contest in the 2019 Parliamentary elections.
The post of chairperson of the government’s apex art and theatre school has been occupied by several prominent people in the past, including former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and social reformer Kamala Devi Chattopadhyay.
NSD’s prominent alumni include actors such as Naseeruddin Shah, Nawazzudin Siddiqui, Om Puri and now deceased Irfan Khan among others.
(Manas Dasgupta)