In a surprising revelation, veteran actor Anupam Kher has disclosed that his colleague Naseeruddin Shah recently apologized to him for past harsh comments, including calling him a 'clown' during their very public 2020 feud. The emotional moment occurred when the two actors met at a memorial service, marking a potential thaw in their longstanding professional tension.
The Apology That Changed Everything
During an interview recorded around Independence Day for Unfiltered by Samdish, Kher shared the heartfelt moment of reconciliation. The meeting took place at filmmaker HD Pathak's memorial service, where Shah approached Kher directly. "We did meet recently where he apologized to me—said, 'Sorry yaar!' We met at HD Pathak's death," Kher revealed, describing the unexpected encounter.
Kher elaborated on their interaction, noting that despite their differences, he maintains his customary warmth toward Shah. "When we met there, he hugged me because I always hug him. I really like him a lot, and he is one of the actors who inspired me to get into acting," Kher expressed, highlighting his enduring respect for Shah's craft and legacy in Indian cinema.
Understanding the 2020 Feud Origins
The conflict between the two acting legends erupted publicly in 2020 following Deepika Padukone's controversial visit to JNU. While Kher voiced pro-government opinions, Shah took a different stance during an interview with The Wire. It was during this conversation that Shah made his now-infamous remarks about Kher.
Shah specifically called Kher a 'clown' during the interview, stating: "Someone like Anupam Kher has been very vocal. I don't think he needs to be taken seriously. He's a clown... it's in his blood, he can't help it." These comments sparked an immediate and forceful response from Kher across social media platforms.
Kher fired back on X (then Twitter) with a detailed rebuttal: "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." He further noted that if Shah could criticize legends like Dilip Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, and Rajesh Khanna, then he was "in great company."
Underlying Bitterness and Professional Respect
Despite the public spat and recent apology, Kher believes there remains some underlying bitterness in Shah that occasionally surfaces. "I still feel I have great respect for Naseer. However, he sometimes has loose-talk conversations about me," Kher observed during the interview.
He expressed concern for his colleague, stating: "I don't want to say this out loud, but he is a brilliant and intelligent man and God has given him so much." Kher acknowledged Shah's unparalleled status in parallel cinema while noting what he perceives as persistent negativity. "Nobody is a bigger star than him in parallel cinema, yet I think there is some kind of bitterness that targets sometimes me, sometimes Dilip Kumar, and sometimes Rajesh Khanna."
The two acclaimed actors, who have shared screen space in notable films like A Wednesday and last worked together in the 2018 film Aiyaary starring Sidharth Malhotra, now appear to be moving toward a more cordial professional relationship following this recent apology.
Kher's revelation provides fascinating insight into the complex dynamics between two of Indian cinema's most respected performers, showing that even among acting legends, personal differences can arise but reconciliation remains possible through simple, honest apologies.
