Happy Birthday Naseeruddin Shah

Comments [ 0 ] By Gunia M. | 20 July 2015 | 12:51am

It has been rightly said by someone, "youth is the gift of nature, but age is a work of art." It is as if this line was said keeping Naseeruddin Shah in mind. Like fine wine, this prominent figure in Indian cinema only gets better with age. Today, as he celebrates his 65th birthday, we reflect on his life and his work, and celebrate with him.

Shah was born in 1950 into a Muslim family in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh. Of his direct family, his elder brother, retired Lt. General Zameerud-din Shah, PVSM, SM, VSM, is most known as the current Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University, from which Shah himself graduated in 1971. His cousin's son is Salim Shah, a TV and film actor. He has a daughter from his first marriage that didn't end on good terms. Actress Ratna Pathak Shah is his second wife and has two sons Imaad and Vivaan Shah, who are both actors.

Shah has acted in many movies over the years, from mainstream Indian cinema to parallel Indian cinema, and even in international films. He shot to fame in mainstream Bollywood with the 1980 film Hum Paanch, and followed with films such as Karma (1986), Ijaazat (1987), Jalwa (1988) and Hero Hiralal (1988). Also in 1988, he acted opposite his wife Ratna Pathak as Inspector Gothe in the H.R.F. Keating inspired The Perfect Murder.

In 1994, Naseeruddin Shah portrayed the villain in Mohra, which was his 100th film as an actor. He forayed into Malayalam cinema that same year with T.V. Chandran's critically well-acclaimed Ponthan Mada. He has even realised his dream of playing Mahatma Gandhi when he played said character in Kamal Hassan's critically acclaimed Hey Ram (2000).

Shah's career has been rife with critical acclaim, and he has also forayed into Pakistani cinema and directing. He has not been content with one medium, and has acted for television and performed theatre as well, having opened a theatre group called Motley Productions. With all his years in acting, it is no surprise that Shah has been awarded the life membership of International Film And Television Club of Asian Academy Of Film and Television.

His memoir, And Then One Day, has been published by Hamish Hamilton.

Today, let us all celebrate one of the most acclaimed stars of our time. Shah has won the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan, two of the four highest civilian awards in India in 1987 and 2003 respectively as well as being nominated for, and winning, numerous awards throughout his remarkable career.

A number of Naseeruddin Shah's films are slated to release this year, and we at BollyCurry cannot wait to see the new characters he brings to life on screen. Once again, a very happy birthday to Naseeruddin Shah, and we wish him all the best.

Writer: Aradhna K.
Editor(s): Ritchelle C. and Gunia K.
Graphics: Saraa K.