Suresh Gopi nominated president of Satyajit Ray Film Television Institute

New Delhi: Malayalam actor and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suresh Gopi was on Thursday nominated as the president of Kolkata-based Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute (SRFTI) and chairman of its governing council.

Union Information & Broadcasting and Youth Affairs & Sports Minister Anurag Thakur shared the news on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), congratulating the actor.

"Many congratulations to veteran film actor @TheSureshGopi ji on being nominated the President of the @srftiofficial society & chairman of the governing council of @srftiofficial for a period of 3 years," the minister wrote.

Thakur said Gopi's vast experience & cinematic brilliance will enrich the esteemed institute.

"I wish you a fruitful tenure," he added in his post.

According to reports, the actor came to know about the nomination only after the news came out and expressed displeasure over not being informed about it earlier.

It is also noted that as the tenure is for a period of three years, he will not be able to contest the next Lok Sabha poll.

However, the actor has not yet made any public comments on the matter.

Suresh Gopi, a National Award-winning actor known for films such as "Kaliyattam", "Manichitrathazhu", "Commissioner", and "Paappan", is a former Rajya Sabha MP.

In February, Gopi drew widespread criticism from netizens over his controversial remarks against non-believers at a temple function in Ernakulam district on the occasion of Shivaratri.

With inputs from agencies