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The Shah's new conquest
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As if over 100 films, dozens of theatre projects and more than a handful of accolades aren't enough, Naseeruddin Shah now takes over the director's chair too. Rakesh Mehar speaks to the man on film fatigue, his forthcoming role in an Othello adaptation and on fellow actors
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PHOTO: MURALI KUMAR K.
FRESH DIRECTION Naseeruddin Shah: `I cannot see myself acting in films for the rest of my life'
Think discerning Indian actor, and his is almost always the first face that comes to mind. He's done everything from what was once called "new-wave cinema" to run-of-the-mill Bollywood potboilers to more recent attempts to crossover films. On stage, he is lauded as one of the great directors of contemporary Indian theatre, particularly with his adaptations of short stories by Ismat Chughtai and Saadat Hassan Manto, besides harvesting innumerable acting accolades. And as if that hasn't been enough, Naseeruddin Shah is now a film director too; his directorial debut Yun Hota Toh Kya Hota is set to hit the screens this weekend.
Adapted from a story written by Uttam Gada, a Gujarati playwright, the film follows the lives of four random people bound together by a strong desire to go to the U.S.A., and the unlikely fate that results from this life-altering dream.
Natural progression
Although this is Shah's first time behind the camera, he is no stranger to direction itself, having already made his mark as a theatre director. Thus, as the veteran actor explains, Yun Hota... was simply a natural progression for him. "I don't think theatre and cinema are as diverse as people think," he explains at a premiere of the film at the PVR Cinema in The Forum mall. "There are fallacies about the difference between theatre and cinema." Cinema is just an extension of theatre, with many advantages over the latter in many ways and vice versa. And as long as it has taken him to make this realisation, he finds that the result has been worth it. "I think I enjoyed it more than I've ever enjoyed acting in movies," he explains.
Indeed, Shah has found pleasure in so many other areas of art that he now feels it's time to hang up his boots as far as film acting goes. "I cannot see myself acting in films for the rest of my life," he says candidly. Instead, he sees more of a future for himself as a teacher, and has taken over as the head of the acting department of Subhash Ghai's filmmaking institute, Whistling Woods. "I would like to continue in theatre, and I hope to make a movie or two. But teaching is something I would like to involve myself with, unless I turn out to be a very bad teacher," he chuckles.
Much of the fatigue Shah has been experiencing with acting in films has been evident in the many recent interviews he has given. Over time, he has grown very cynical of the Hindi film industry, and has lashed out time and again at formulaic movie making. In the last few years, he has also tried to keep away from the typical masala film, devoting more of his time and energy to more critically acclaimed films such as Monsoon Wedding, Maqbool, Iqbal and Being Cyrus. "I've always been distant from formulaic films," he asserts, "even when I was acting in them. "I'm relieved to not be doing those kinds of movies anymore." That stand hasn't softened in anyway after putting himself through the bump and grind of directing, either. If anything, he explains, "it's hardened. I stand by everything I've said."
Even his upcoming appearance in Omkara, Vishal Bharadwaj's adaptation of the Shakespeare's Othello, in the context of the Uttar Pradesh mafia, only came out of a strong desire on Shah's part to be involved in the project. "I didn't know about it till it almost began. Then I told Vishal that I would like to do anything that he had for me."Bharadwaj happily agreed, giving Shah the role of the Duke in Othello.
Describing the relationship between them, Shah says: "(Vishal) is a friend and I support the work he does. I think he's doing some important work. And I enjoy his company." Another reason for him to get involved in the project was Saif Ali Khan. "I was also curious about Saif, and I just wanted to watch him for a couple of days."
With Omkara, Shah makes his second appearance in a Bharadwaj film. In Maqbool — Macbeth in the Mumbai underworld — he teamed up with the other Bollywood veteran, Om Puri, to play the role of the three witches (transposed here into two corrupt Mumbai cops). The two men are often compared with each other, with both carrying the reputation of being discerning actors. When the comparison is brought up again, Shah says that he is glad that Puri's career has turned out as it has. "I don't know if Om ever expected this kind of success, but I always felt he deserved it. As far as I'm concerned, I feel very gratified and fulfilled. I am very happy for him, and I am sure he feels likewise about me."
With Yun Hota... done with, the future looks more relaxed for Shah. There's nothing much coming up soon other than for a couple of releases including Parzania by Rahul Dholakhia and Valley of Flowers by Pan Nalin. Directorial ventures too aren't anywhere on the horizon, with Shah looking to bone up on his technical skills before attempting more projects. "I just want to take it easy for a while," he explains.
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