If I were to describe Naseeruddin Shah as an actor, I wouldn’t talk about all the great films he has done. I would talk about Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. He had just a couple of minutes of screen-time. In those minutes, he managed to portray a character so complex, so self-absorbed, who brings us to the brink of hating him…but then you can’t. And all this while just rolling a cigarette and asking regular questions to a bunch of guys. The thing is, Naseeruddin Shah doesn’t need a great role to be a great actor.
As you may know, Shah graduated from the Film and Television Institute of India and is an alumnus of the National School of Drama. But what’s funny is that when he was in film school, not many had the confidence that he would survive in the film industry, let alone be the huge name that he is today.
The Indian Express quoted him saying:
“When I was studying at the film institute, I was this student who was given the least chance of succeeding in the film industry. As it turned out, I am one of the few who has survived the class. I am one of the two, the other is Shakti Kapoor. It is not a joke, it is a fact. Shakti was one of the best students in the class and I was the backbencher.”
The 71-year-old actor further expressed that he has done “almost everything” he needed to do as an actor and that there aren’t many desires left to pursue.
“I have done almost everything that I decided to do as an actor, I don’t really have any such desires left.”
All he wants is a chance to be remembered.
“I want to be part of projects which will be fun and I feel have a chance of being remembered, which says something more than just a simple story. I have had plenty of opportunities in my career for which I am extremely grateful.”
One can never get enough of this man!
Cover image: source.
