With his vast experience of work related to children and children's cinema including the Aamir Khan project "Taare Zameen Par" and Gupte's own directorial project "Stanley Ka Dabba", one wonders if there could be a better candidate for the post.
"My first reaction on being made the offer was, do I have the time to give ample attention to the new responsibility? But then I saw this job as not a job at all, but as an integral part of the work I've already been doing with children, with a singleminded passion, I might add," said Gupte.
"I'm devoted for a lifetime to working for the rights of children and what is right for children. Making films for and about them is an essential component of my devotion to providing a better life for the children of our country," he added.
"A powerful platform like the Children's Film Society would provide me with invaluable leverage to extend the reach of my endeavour."
Gupte says he has innumerable ideas swimming in his head about children's cinema that he would to be made for the CFSI.
"I need to sort my ideas out about how I'll initiate my stint with the CFSI. My predecessor Nandita Das has been doing a very good job. The CFSI's recent film 'Gattu' was exemplary. I hope to bring forth many more Gattus and Stanleys. But first, let me catch my breath," he said.