Naseeruddin Shah reveals he couldn’t sit through RRR and Pushpa: ‘Main aisi films dekhne kabhi na jaaun’

Naseeruddin Shah, renowned for his impactful contributions to Hindi cinema, recently shared his thoughts on the glorification of hyper-masculinity in Bollywood films. During an interview on the YouTube channel We Are Yuvaa, the actor also disclosed that he found it difficult to watch mainstream blockbusters like RRR and Pushpa.

When asked about the success of films like Kabir Singh, which celebrated hyper-masculinity and earned moolah at the box office, Shah commented on the growing insecurity among men. He said, “Men’s insecurity is increasing. That’s why hyper-masculinity is being emphasised even more. All superheroes, now in America, this Marvel universe is thriving, and it’s happening here too. But alongside, films like A Wednesday also succeed, which don’t have a hypermasculine hero. Granted, the premise of that film is completely impossible. So, that character somehow falls into the hero category because what he does, it’s not possible for anyone to do. But people overlook that, because he provides them with a thrill. So I suppose this need to receive a thrill is there and will always be there. But the acceptance of smaller films like those made by Anurag, like Ramprasad Ki Terhvi, like Gulmohar, I think these kinds of sensitive movies will find their place as well.”

Expressing his perspective on certain blockbuster films, Naseeruddin Shah revealed his inability to sit through movies like RRR and Pushpa. He said, “I am pretty sure because I have great faith in the younger generation and I think that they are far more evolved, far more informed and far more savvy than we were. Apart from the thrill, I can’t imagine what else one gets from watching such films. I tried to watch RRR, but I couldn’t. I tried to watch Pushpa, but I couldn’t. Although I did watch a Mani Ratnam film, completely, because he is a very capable filmmaker and does not have an agenda. And I can’t imagine besides the thrill or feeding the emotions hidden inside you. There is a sense of happiness that often lingers for several days after watching. I can’t imagine. Main aisi films dekhne kabhi na jaaun.”

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In an earlier interview, Shah had pointed how popularity of jingoistic films like Gadar 2 and The Kashmir Files is problematic. “In fact, films like Kerala Story and Gadar 2, I haven’t seen them but I know what they are about. It’s disturbing that films like Kashmir Files are so massively popular whereas movies made by Sudhir Mishra, Anubhav Sinha, and Hansal Mehta, who are trying to portray the truth of their times don’t get seen,” he had said.