4 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Oct 22, 2024 08:13 AM IST
Anupam Kher and Naseeruddin Shah, both alums of the National School of Drama, starred together in several movies including the 2008 film A Wednesday. In the movie, Naseeruddin plays a common man who is disappointed in the incompetence of the governing authorities and metes out vigilante justice, while Anupam plays the Commissioner of Mumbai Police. In real life too, Naseeruddin Shah is known for being vocal and sharing his political views. In one of the interviews in 2020, while defending Deepika Padukone’s move of supporting the students in JNU, Naseeruddin Shah called Anupam Kher, a “clown” and “sycophant”, which sparked a controversy as well as a war-of-words between the two co-stars.
Now, years later, Anupam Kher talked about his equation with his fellow actor and said, “It is important to reply to people.”
In an interview with Shubhankar Mishra, the Saaransh actor shared, “I have never tried to spoil my personal relationships with anyone. I have the greatest regard for Naseeruddin sir. But, when Naseeruddin sir ended up commenting something inappropriate about me, then you just can’t keep quiet.”
He added, “I have read the Bhagvad Gita. In that, Krishna tells Arjun, ‘None of them standing here are your family. You will have to do what is right.’ When it comes to your principles, be it anybody, you will have to speak the truth. And I am the kind of person who speaks the truth. Even after that, both of us met at our CA’s funeral, and we hugged each other. Yes, you see changes in your love for them, but, we are still friends.”
“He commented something about having it in my blood, it was important for me to reply while also keeping the person’s dignity alive”, said Anupam Kher.
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The controversy started back in 2020, when during an interview with The Wire, Naseeruddin Shah said, “You have to laud the courage of a girl like Deepika who is in the top firmament and yet takes a step like this. Even if she has a lot to lose. Let us see how she takes it. She’ll lose a few endorsement, sure. Will that impoverish her? Will that lessen her popularity? Will that make her less beautiful than she is? They’re gonna come around sooner or later. The only god that film industry worships is money.”
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Talking about Anupam Kher, who vocally endorses the government, Naseer said, “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.”
In his reply, Anupam Kher took to his X account, and said, “I never bad-mouthed you, or said anything rude to you. But now I would like to say that you have spent your entire life, despite all the success, in frustration. If you can criticise Dilip Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna, Shah Rukh Khan, and Virat Kohli, then I am sure I am in great company.”
He added, “Also, none of these people took your statements seriously. Because we know that this is not you talking but all the substances you’ve consumed for years. They’ve clouded your judgement of what is right and what is wrong. If saying bad things about me gets you headlines for a couple of days, then this is my gift to you.”
Naseeruddin Shah and Anupam Kher last starred together in the 2018 film Aiyaary.
Anupam Kher opens about his equation with Naseeruddin Shah after controversy. (Photo: IMDb)