When Naseeruddin Shah called Shah Rukh Khan ‘boring actor’, said, "There is only Akshay Kumar who..."

When Naseeruddin Shah called Shah Rukh Khan ‘boring actor’, said, "There is only Akshay Kumar who..."

Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah, known for his unmatched craft and candid views, has once again found himself at the center of conversation after an old interview resurfaced online. The video, which is now going viral across social media platforms, captures the legendary performer speaking openly about his opinions on mainstream Bollywood stars  and what’s caught everyone’s attention is his unexpected praise for Akshay Kumar.

In the resurfaced interview, Shah was asked if he ever watched films of popular Hindi cinema stars such as Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar, or Ajay Devgn, and whether any of them impressed him as actors. Known for his forthrightness, he responded with characteristic bluntness: “No, and I don’t even make an effort to watch them. I have worked with many of them but none of them have really impressed me. But there is only Akshay Kumar, whom I admire a lot, because without any guidance, or godfather and support he made his own place. And now his acting shows signs of capability. After having done it for so long, he has become a good actor.”

Coming from a performer who has spent decades mastering stage and screen, the statement was seen as both critical and respectful critical of the complacency he sees in many stars, yet deeply respectful of Akshay’s discipline and evolution as an actor.

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When the interviewer mentioned that Shah Rukh Khan too had achieved immense success without any industry support, Shah acknowledged it but didn’t shy away from critique. “Yeah, and for that I have great admiration for Shah Rukh. But as an actor, he is becoming boring,” he said, offering a rare insight into his view of the superstar’s artistic choices.

This resurfaced clip has reignited discussions about authenticity, stardom, and craft in Hindi cinema. Fans and critics have been quick to revisit Shah’s collaborations with both actors, with Akshay Kumar in the 1994 hit Mohra and with Shah Rukh Khan in films like Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa, Chamatkar, and Main Hoon Na.