Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah, widely regarded as one of the finest talents in Hindi cinema, has been captivating audiences for over five decades with his remarkable performances. His upcoming project, Imtiaz Ali's 'Main Vaapas Aaunga', has generated significant buzz. The film's trailer was unveiled in Mumbai on Tuesday, and Shah, alongside co-stars Sharvari and Vedang Raina, shared insights into his career and film choices.
During the trailer launch, Shah made a candid confession about his own work. He stated, "I believe any actor's success goes to the writer and director; if the writing is not great, even the finest actor in the world cannot do anything. I have given some very bad performances in films; my sons wake me up at 3 am in the night to show me those films on YouTube. I would rather sleep." This humorous yet honest remark highlighted his self-awareness and humility.
Praise for Imtiaz Ali
Shah also lavished praise on director Imtiaz Ali, saying, "Imtiaz has written a brilliant film, the dialogues are amazing, situations are powerful. I have seen and loved his films in the past; he works with his actors with immense love and discipline. I have met very few directors who take retakes only because of an actor's performance. Imtiaz is one of them."
Imtiaz Ali reciprocated the warmth, recalling his first meeting with the legendary actor. "When I met him at his house first, I was told that he is a very serious actor. But when I met him, his entire focus was on why I didn't have tea, if it was not made well. So I understood that I didn't need to take him very seriously; he is a normal guy. I was very fascinated and excited to see him in a turban, to play a Sikh gentleman. Everyone who has seen the film's rough cut loves him the most in the film," Ali shared.
Shah's Philosophy on Role Selection
Naseeruddin Shah has always been outspoken about his craft. He has not only celebrated his successes but also acknowledged his failures. In a 2013 interview with the Times of India, Shah explained, "I accept only the roles I feel like doing. There can be various reasons to pick a role—it can be the content, the co-actors, the directors, or even the money—it can be anything. I am not too careful while choosing my projects, and that is why I have made so many mistakes in my career."
He further added, "I have done some bad films, but I don't really regret doing those. I believed in them when I signed the projects. I don't lose sleep thinking if I should do this film or not. I go by my instinct."
Shah's recent film, Manish Malhotra-produced 'Gustakh Ishq', did not perform well commercially. Nevertheless, his upcoming venture 'Main Vaapas Aaunga' is highly anticipated, with early reviews praising his performance as a Sikh gentleman.
