Naseeruddin Shah is receiving widespread praise for his performance in Imtiaz Ali‘s ‘Main Vaapas Aaunga’, a film that has done well both critically and commercially. His portrayal of JRD Tata in ‘Made in India’ has also drawn appreciation. Riding this wave of success, the veteran actor has been clear that he isn’t planning to step away from acting anytime soon.
Naseeruddin Shah on rejecting lifetime achievement awards
The team of ‘Main Vaapas Aaunga’ marked a significant milestone on Friday, hosting a success bash in Mumbai as the film crossed 50 days in theatres, a rare achievement in the current market. Starring Diljit Dosanjh, Sharvari, and Vedang Raina alongside Naseeruddin Shah, the romantic saga stands as Imtiaz Ali’s first box-office success in years. During the event, Shah spoke candidly about the film’s success and his own career path. Addressing the gathering, which included several journalists, he said, “I have been offered several lifetime achievement awards recently, and I said no. Lifetime achievement awards are a way of saying your work is done. I have no intention of ye lekar jaana (taking this and leaving), and that is why I don’t accept these awards. I don’t think my job is done.”The multiple National Award winner also took a moment to thank audiences for embracing ‘Main Vaapas Aaunga’. “I feel very fortunate to have been a part of this film, and I’m extremely proud of it. Thank you all for the support you have lent,” he added.
Naseeruddin Shah’s journey through Bollywood and National Awards
Naseeruddin Shah kicked off his acting career in the mid-1970s with parallel cinema, before transitioning into mainstream Bollywood with ‘Hum Paanch’. The 1980s saw him find box-office success with films such as ‘Karma’, ‘Jalwa’, and ‘Malaamal’. Along the way, he claimed the Best Actor National Award for ‘Sparsh’ in 1979 and ‘Paar’ in 1984, followed by the Best Supporting Actor award for ‘Iqbal’ in 2005.
About ‘Main Vaapas Aaunga’
‘Main Vaapas Aaunga’, directed by Imtiaz Ali, has been produced by Birla Studios and Applause Entertainment, together with Mohit Choudhary and Shibasish Sarkar of Window Seat Films. The period drama is set against the backdrop of Partition-era memories and personal history, following 95-year-old Ishar Singh Grewal, played by Naseeruddin Shah, who suffers a stroke while trying to make his way to Sargodha in present-day Pakistan. As long-forgotten memories from his life before Partition begin resurfacing, his grandson Nirvair, played by Diljit Dosanjh, travels back from England to piece together family secrets buried for years. At its heart, the story revolves around the emotional mystery of Ishar’s journey.
