Bollywood shouldn’t be remembered for Salman Khan films: Naseeruddin Shah

Author: Daily Times Monitor

Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah says cinema is for posterity and hence he takes it as his responsibility to do as many socially relevant films as possible.

Veteran Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah believes cinema serves as a record of times and he would not want the audience to look back at 2018 as the phase of only one kind of cinema, case in point “Salman Khan films”, an Indian publication reported. The actor says cinema is for posterity and hence he takes it as his responsibility to do as many socially relevant films as possible.

“I feel that cinema can’t change society or bring a revolution. I’m also not sure of cinema as a medium of education. Documentaries can be educative, not feature films. People see them and forget. The only serious function films can serve is to act as a record of their times,” Shah told PTI.

The actor says it’s for this reason that he chose to work in movies like A Wednesday or his recent short film, Rogan Josh, set in the aftermath of 26/11 attacks. “I consider it my responsibility to take part in such films. All my serious works are a representative of their times. Cinema will survive. These films would be seen 200 years later.

“People should know what the India of 2018 was like. They shouldn’t end up seeing only Salman Khan films 200 years later. India is not like that. Cinema is for posterity,” he adds. Rogan Josh by Sanjeev Vig, features Shah as a celebrated chef at The Taj Hotels who invites his family and friends home for dinner to celebrate his birthday.

The dinner table conversation meanders to the shared experience of 26/11 and questions the quality of their existence after the life changing event. Shah, 68, says he is always keen to work with young people who are struggling against odds to make what they believe in.

“If there’s a young man trying to make a song and dance film, I wouldn’t give him a second. But here was a young man trying to make a film on a subject he believes should be made. “I am totally for first timers. I always hear them seriously. I have done so many films with first timers and I’ve never regretted it,” he says.

Rogan Josh, by Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films, was screened at the 20th edition of Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival. The actor, who has worked in a couple of short films, says the medium is absolutely liberating for budding filmmakers.

“The great thing about short films is that there’s no pressure of producers sitting on these filmmakers head and telling them who the hero should be and what kind of songs (to he used). “They are having the freedom to make the kind of film they want to make without the worry of box office,” he adds.

Published in Daily Times, October 30th 2018.

Share
Leave a Comment

Recent Posts

  • Pakistan

Gandapur, Bushra Bibi Resurface at KP Assembly Speaker’s Residence Amid Political Turmoil

Former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Bushra Bibi, wife of PTI founder…

13 hours ago
  • Top Stories

Trump’s team signs formal transition agreement with Biden administration

US President-elect Donald Trump's transition team has officially signed a memorandum of understanding with the…

13 hours ago
  • Pakistan

Pak-US relations have huge potential to grow: US experts

Relations between Pakistan and the U.S. have the potential to grow and scale up in…

13 hours ago
  • Pakistan

Imran calls for ‘fight till the end’ as govt rules out talks

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has lauded his party's supporters in Islamabad and D-Chowk,…

23 hours ago
  • Pakistan

Pakistan, Belarus to fast-track bilateral deals, sign several MOUs

Pakistan and Belarus on Tuesday agreed on the early realization of bilateral accords to enhance…

23 hours ago
  • Pakistan

Kurram clashes death toll rises to 99 as truce falters

The death toll from the recent violence that has plagued the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Kurram district…

23 hours ago