Naseeruddin Shah on Doing Films for Money: ‘No Worse Torture Than Working Three Shifts a Day’

Naseeruddin Shah on Doing Films for Money: Naseeruddin Shah is one of the best actors of Hindi cinema. He’s done many films like ‘Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro’, ‘A Wednesday’ etc. But did you know that in the early days of his career he did some films for the lack of money. In a recent interview he spoke about it and also admitted that he regrets it.

Shah said in a podcast of Aadyam Theatre's Youtube channel, "I’ve done three shifts a day, and there’s no worse torture in the world. There was a time when I was acting in several lovely movies for money. And I realized no amount of money is worth this agony, of jumping from one set to another. Half of the time, you’re bloody socializing on set. You get there for the 9 am shift, then you spend another hour or so having breakfast, enjoying the scenery, and gossiping."

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But Ratna Pathak Shah who was also on this podcast spoke about her own experiences. and said, "I’ve done very little work that is of a high quality. I’ve done most of my work on television, so that’s not the kind of quality we’re talking about when we talk about great art. But I have realized if I don’t give it my all and I don’t use the skills I’m using while I’m doing theatre, then this doesn’t sound or look right.”

She said there’s no point in doing subpar work. “I do so little work that I can’t get myself to cheat even in that. I understand if I’m doing four shifts a day, then I’d just spit in one and move ahead. But if a play or a role comes to me after two years, then at least I should work hard in that,” added Ratna.

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Recently Ratna was at FICCI Flo Hyderabad summit and said she feels resentful of Naseeruddin’s position. “I love the fact that he is totally focused on his work, and he is the most generous person to work with as an actor, as a director, in every way. As a director, he helps every single person arrive at the best of what they are capable of,” she said.

She said she’s second in his life after his work. "I love that about him, but I also hate that about him. I love acting, but I am not committed to it the way he is. I do sometimes feel resentful in taking second place to work, but finally I have made my peace with that,” Ratna added.

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