Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah has broken his silence after Farhan Akhtar recently called out his decade-old critical remarks about Akhtar's performance in the biographical sports drama 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.' The 75-year-old acting legend acknowledged that Akhtar has legitimate reasons to feel upset but maintained that his original statement had been exaggerated in media reports.
The Controversial Comments Resurface
This renewed controversy stems from comments Naseeruddin Shah made back in 2013 when 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' was released. In an interview with The Times of India at that time, Shah had stated: "I don't care about Farhan Akhtar, and I don't watch his films." Despite this blunt opening, he had acknowledged Akhtar's multifaceted talents, saying he wouldn't be surprised if Akhtar "cooked a 10-course meal to perfection."
In a separate conversation with IANS, Shah had been even more critical of the film itself, calling it "a completely fake film" and questioning Akhtar's portrayal of the legendary athlete Milkha Singh. He had remarked that "building up muscles and growing your hair is not exactly working hard on your acting" and wondered why Akhtar hadn't tried to physically resemble the real Milkha Singh more closely.
Farhan Akhtar's Recent Response
The issue resurfaced recently when Farhan Akhtar, during an interaction with India TV, addressed Shah's old comments for the first time publicly. Akhtar expressed his disappointment with how Shah had chosen to communicate his criticism, calling the public nature of the remarks "distasteful."
Akhtar emphasized that he and Shah had known each other for many years, having worked together in 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara' and with Shah knowing him since childhood. The actor-filmmaker suggested that if Shah genuinely wanted to help him improve as an actor, there were more constructive ways to offer feedback. "I would have picked up a phone and told the person to come home," Akhtar stated, outlining his preferred approach to constructive criticism.
Naseeruddin Shah's Clarification
When approached by HT City about Akhtar's recent comments, Naseeruddin Shah offered his perspective on the ongoing dispute. "He is right but I think my statement has been exaggerated a bit," Shah stated, acknowledging the validity of Akhtar's feelings while defending his original intent.
When pressed for details about which parts of his statement had been exaggerated, the veteran actor responded with characteristic bluntness: "I don't think you need to be a genius to figure that out! Read both statements." This response suggests that Shah believes the context of his full comments, rather than selective excerpts, would provide a more balanced understanding of his position.
This exchange highlights the ongoing tensions that can arise from public criticism within the film industry, particularly when it involves artists who have personal and professional history together. Both actors have maintained respectful tones while firmly standing by their respective positions in this decade-spanning disagreement.
