Naseeruddin Shah sometimes called Anupan Kher a ‘joker’ and sometimes made fun of Rajesh Khanna, this is the controversial statement of the actor

Happy birthday Naseeruddin Shah! The veteran actor, who turned 73 on July 20, is known for his remarkable talent and boldness in voicing his opinion. During his illustrious career, Shah has fearlessly expressed his views on various socio-political issues. His views have often seen heated debates and controversies.

In a career spanning over four decades, Naseeruddin Shah has earned immense acclaim for his portrayal of myriad characters, making him one of the most respected figures in the Indian film industry. Apart from his acting, the actor has never been afraid to be vocal about his views, even if it means controversies. On his birthday, let’s take a look at five instances where Shah’s bold opinions sparked controversy and sparked national debate.

Naseeruddin Shah reveals he uses awards as door handles

During the interview with Lallantop, the actor made a blistering statement. He claimed that he uses the Filmfare Awards as a door handle. He said, “Any actor who has put his life and effort into playing a role is a good actor. If you pick one person out of all and say ‘he is the best actor of the year’, how is that fair? I am not proud of those awards. I didn’t even go to collect my last two awards. So, when I built a farmhouse I decided to keep these awards there. Whoever goes to the washroom will get two prizes each as the handles are made of Filmfare awards.

Naseeruddin Shah on the success of ‘The Kerala Story’

In an exclusive interview, Naseeruddin Shah calls the success of The Kerala Story a ‘dangerous trend’. “On the one hand, it is a dangerous trend, there is no doubt about it. It appears that we are going the way of Nazi Germany where, during Hitler’s time, filmmakers were, attempted and are being coerced into making films praising the Supreme Leader for what he and his countrymen had done. under the Jewish community. A lot of master filmmakers in Germany left there, came to Hollywood and made films there. The same seems to be happening here as well. Either be on the right side, be neutral or be pro-establishment.”

Naseeruddin Shah on Rajesh Khanna

During an interview in 2016, the veteran made controversial remarks about late actor Rajesh Khanna, referring to him as a ‘bad actor’ and saying that he was responsible for bringing mediocrity to Indian cinema in the 1970s. His comments received significant backlash from fans and colleagues, who defended the late actor’s contribution to Indian cinema and questioned Shah’s approach. Khanna’s daughter Twinkle later decided to give up the feud and announced her father’s achievements on Twitter. He then wrote, “Full respect to the reality of Mr. Shah, me = a man who loved cinema and did films like Anand, Amar Prem, Kati Patang, thank you all for your love.”

Naseeruddin Shah said that the Mughals did not come to India to plunder

During the promotion of his last release ‘Taj: Divided by Blood’, Naseeruddin, who played the role of Mughal emperor Akbar, made a statement which created a controversy. “The Mughals did not come to India to plunder,” he said. In an interview with The Indian Express, Shah expressed concern over the recent demonization of some Mughal rulers and questioned the diminishing recognition of their contributions to India. The remark sparked a flurry of discussions, with many opposing his views.

When Naseeruddin Shah called Anupam Kher a ‘joker’

In a surprising turn of events, Shah publicly called fellow actor Anupam Kher a ‘clown’. He dismissed Kher’s outspoken nature and criticized him for his perceived sycophancy. This unfiltered comment by a fellow industry colleague took many by surprise and triggered a wide-ranging discussion about professional etiquette and respect within the film industry.

These examples show how Naseeruddin Shah’s outspoken comments have often sparked intense debate, reflecting his fearless personality and willingness to express his opinion, no matter how controversial.