Naseeruddin Shah birthday: From criticising Hindi films and term 'Bollywood' to calling Virat Kohli 'worst behaved player', a look at the shocking statements made by senior actor

Naseeruddin Shah

Naseeruddin Shah, a veteran actor celebrated for his profound impact on the Hindi film industry, turned a year older today. Throughout his illustrious career, Shah has been known for his unfiltered opinions on various topics, often landing him in the middle of controversies. Here are some of his most shocking statements that have made headlines over the years.

"Mughals Were Refugees"

On December 30, 2021, Shah made headlines with his controversial remarks about the Mughals. He claimed that the Mughals came to India to make it their homeland, contributing significantly to the country's cultural heritage. He stated, "The so-called atrocities of the Mughals are being highlighted all the time. We forget that the Mughals are people who have contributed to the country. They are people who have left lasting monuments in the country, who have left the tradition of dancing, music, painting, literature. Mughals came here to make this their homeland. You can call them refugees if you like." This comment sparked outrage and widespread criticism on social media, leading to the video being deleted.
Calling Anupam Kher a "Clown"

In January 2020, Shah referred to Anupam Kher as a sycophant and a clown due to Kher's pro-government stance. Shah's statement was, "Someone like Anupam Kher has been very vocal. I don’t think he needs to be taken seriously. He’s a clown. Any number of his contemporaries from NSD and FTII can attest to his sycophantic nature. It’s in his blood, he can’t help it." Kher responded with a social media video, defending himself and criticizing Shah's remarks, pointing out Shah's perceived bitterness and frustration

Criticizing Dilip Kumar

Shah expressed his discontent with the late Dilip Kumar's contributions to cinema, beyond acting. He remarked, "Some of those works doubtless will survive the test of time but, given the position he was in, it is more than evident he didn’t do enough apart from acting and being involved in social causes close to his heart. He produced only one film, didn’t direct any (officially at least), never passed on the benefit of his experience, didn’t bother to groom anyone, and apart from his pre-1970s performances, left behind no significant lessons for future actors; even his autobiography is but a rehash of old interviews."

Comments on Bulandshahr Violence

In 2018, following the Bulandshahr violence incident, where a police inspector was killed by a mob, Shah commented on the prioritization of cow protection over human life. He stated, "At many places, the death of a cow is being given more importance than the killing of a policeman." His remarks led to a significant backlash, and he expressed concerns about the safety and future of his children in India.Criticizing Rajesh Khanna

In 2016, Shah criticized the late Rajesh Khanna, calling him a "poor actor" and blaming him for the decline in the quality of Hindi films. He commented, "It was the 70s when mediocrity came in Hindi films. That’s when the actor called Rajesh Khanna joined the industry. For all his success, I think Mr. Khanna was a very limited actor. In fact, he was a poor actor. Intellectually, he wasn’t the most alert person I have ever met. His taste ruled the industry quality of the script, acting, music and lyrics deteriorated. Colour came in. You could make a heroine wear a purple dress and hero a red shirt, go to Kashmir and make a movie. You didn’t need a story"

Criticism of Virat Kohli

In 2018, Shah called cricketer Virat Kohli the "world’s worst behaved player." In a Facebook post, he wrote, "Virat K is not only the world’s best batsman but also the world’s worst behaved player. His cricketing brilliance pales beside his arrogance and bad manners. And I have no intention of leaving the country by the way."

Preference for Korean Films

In a bold statement, Shah remarked, “Korean films are better than Bollywood films, and we keep claiming that the whole world is watching Bollywood films.” He highlights a key issue by stating, “First of all, I hate the word ‘Bollywood’. Just like Indian food is gaining fame worldwide due to its inherent qualities, Bollywood films are said to be gaining fame.”