Despite 250 films to his name, cinema is still a nerve-wracking experience for actor Naseeruddin Shah, who got candid during a “retrospective” discussion on the sidelines of the Jagran Film Festival over the weekend.
He said actors fear the immortality a movie reel gives them, especially because no one is infallible. Yet, even after 50 years in cinema, the thrill of seeing his reflection on camera has failed to diminish with time.
“ Aate hain ghaib se ye mazaameen khayaal mein Ghalib,
Sareer-e-khaama nawa-e-sarosh hai ”
[When mysteriously topics or subjects come in ones thoughts; then the sound made by the pen, resonates like the voice or sound of angles]
Quoting Ghalib, Shah shared with his fans, who have often pondered about the source of his genius, that it is difficult to point out the influence of his creativity. However, he joked that his mother’s influence uncannily found its way into his portrayal of Mahatma Gandhi.
His work, he explained, is a mixture of imagination and observation. “Too much analysis gets in the way of art. Actors these days mistake anxiety for involvement. You don’t need to experience the role to portray it. You can’t ever become the character.”
Having made some bad decisions with regards to his film career, he added: “The way two people perceive the same script can be radically different. This is one of the reasons why actors can’t predict the outcome of a movie while reading the script.”
Shah said that warped priorities, like churning out content to generate finances or directors who have no conviction or familiarity with their craft, have often landed him in “bad”.
Advising aspiring artistes, he said: “Acting schools are shams. They fleece young boys and girls by offering to make them actors over the weekend. Life is a teacher in the field of arts and acting is just about communing with your listeners.”
On the Rs.100 crore-movie club, the veteran actor said mediocrity has entered every field of life and that cinema is no exception. “We’ve hit rock bottom. We are remaking movies that should not have been made in the first place.”
On the recent issue of the Udta Punjab ’s censorship debate, Shah said: “I don’t believe in overly-realistic cinema. Saving Private Ryan by [Steven] Spielberg turned my stomach. I don’t think that is the effect movies should have. Film-makers have their own rules. Their minds are the best guide about where to draw the line, not a certification board.”
( The writer is an intern with The Hindu )
