The big idea

Though Shyam Benegal gave him cinematic standing with Nishant, Manthan and Bhumika in 1975 8211; 76, Naseeruddin Shah8217;s most intense performances came with Saeed Mirza8217;s Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Aata Hai in 1980. In the movie, he plays a Goan garage mechanic who dreams of owning the expensive cars he repairs. Nothing could be more life-like. Then came Sparsh, Mandi, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron and Mohan Joshi Hazir Ho to prove that he is arguably the finest actor in the industry.

However, this 49 year old8217;s first love is theatre. Trained at the National School of Drama, Shah has not allowed himself to remain static for long. Variation has always been his fundamental, with theatre forming the backdrop.From parallel cinema, Shah took the commercial tributary by vociferously rejecting the film-makers who gave him credibility. quot;They were making the same movies time and again.quot; And though he didn8217;t do noteworthy work in mainstream cinema, it was something he had to go through. quot;I had to get it out of my system. It easedaway all inhibitions and pretensions. And I learnt not to take myself as an actor seriously.quot; Initially, his penchant for comedy and his slight frame got him roles like Hero Hiralal and Malamal, but then films like Jalwa and, much later, Sir consistently proved his sheer versatility as an actor.

quot;Acting is acting. While shooting for a film, I treat every shot as one complete performance. The only difference is that it takes three months for a two-hour play and two hours for one shot.quot;

After his much complimented role of a terrorist in the guise of a ghazal singer in Sarfarosh, Shah is waiting for his next, Bhopal Express. quot;I am in the process of improving. I identify deficient areas and work consciously on them. Anyway one gets better with age.quot;

Another thing that has helped Shah all the way has been his instinct. quot;The first reading of the script has always told me about the role. It8217;s only in the cause of actually doing it that you understand the person you are playing. This process of understandingtakes months of rehearsals that8217;s when the play reveals itself and you realise whether you got it right.quot; In this treat of novelty, direction has also come naturally to Shah he has directed a number of plays under his banner, Motley. quot;I have watched actors keenly all my life. Watching them, I have learnt to decipher where and why they are going wrong and whether I have a solution for it. This impelled me to direct.quot;

8212; MEETA BHATTI