Naseeruddin Shah reveals hilarious reason for choosing acting over 'respectable' job

Naseeruddin Shah reveals hilarious reason for choosing acting over 'respectable' job

Naseeruddin Shah, one of Bollywood’s finest actors, has always been known for his unparalleled talent and deep understanding of cinema. Over the years, his remarkable performances have won hearts and earned him a revered place in the industry. Recently, the actor shared a humorous and candid reason for choosing acting over a more "respectable" profession — something that may not be what many would expect.

In an interview with Aadyam Theatre, Shah opened up about his family’s expectations and how they influenced his career decisions. When asked about his father’s desire for him to pursue a more traditional career, Shah said, “That I’ve become a doctor or something like that. A respectable profession.”

The actor also spoke about growing up in a “straight-laced family,” a household with a strong sense of discipline and expectations. Reflecting on his family, Shah shared a curious and amusing anecdote about his grandmother, revealing that she had once “faked blindness.”

Shah’s love for cinema and theater began at an early age. He reminisced about the time when his father, who worked as a deputy collector, would take him and his siblings to the theater. “He just wanted to get us the hell out of the house because I was five, my brother was seven, and the other was eight,” Shah recalled.
When it came time for Shah to choose a profession, he jokingly stated, “I decided I would be an actor because I was not good at anything else. I was decent at cricket, but that was about it.”

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Shah further explained that his fascination with film stars, particularly Spencer Tracy and Anthony Quinn, led him to imitate them. “I used to imitate stars... I considered myself quite good at it,” he said. Despite his father’s desire for him to pursue science, Shah ended up in an arts college, largely because he failed to gain admission into a science program. He also revealed how he began taking part in plays during his school years, though he kept this hidden from his parents. He even went so far as to hide the trophies he won in those plays.

Over time, Shah’s parents became aware of his growing interest in acting. While his mother gradually came to accept his decision, his father remained staunchly disapproving. Shah remembered that his father never visited him at drama school, possibly unsettled by the idea of a mixed hostile environment. It wasn’t until Shah started earning from his first film that his father began to soften his stance. Sadly, Shah’s father passed away before he could see his son’s immense success in the industry.