Posted:
Naseeruddin Shah: "I don't give a fiddler's fart for awards"
The Industry Veteran
"No actor in this industry could be more content than I am. I am not in the race. I don't lose sleep over whether my next film will run or not. I am called in when people want a job done. As long as that ability does not desert me, I have no reason to worry,"
The Hunger to Learn
"My practical wife (Ratna Pathak Shah) has set aside enough for us to live comfortably. I had some crazy dreams. They didn't end with an air-conditioned car and a good house. I am hungry to learn even at this age. I am learning to ride and want to know all about horses. I wanted to be an astronaut though
I am too old for that now. But I am still fit, so if there are any vacancies out there, I would happily fill them up."
On Ishqiya
"I play a possessive lover. But when I realise that my feelings are not being reciprocated, the story undergoes a twist. The censors snipping the 'abusive' language in the promos has definitely irked Vishal. Censors don't have a sense of consistency. Sometimes they retain scenes; sometimes they delete them for absurd reasons. But I guess they have guidelines to follow."
On Working with Arshad Warsi
"It's like playing tennis with a good player. You better your own game. Acting is not a contest. We don't work against each other. We work with each other. That's why I hate the phrase 'pitted against each other'. Or things like 'this is your scene and you should dominate'. What's important is basic trust and regard. That's what makes up for the mysterious word 'chemistry'."
On Awards, Fame and Recognition
"I don't give a fiddler's fart for awards. Don't censor this. Please print it. The fact that every person I meet tells me that they loved it means a zillion times more to me than awards. I don't delude myself that it was because of me. Any competent actor would have done a good job. It was such a well-written script! Why would you dismiss the opinion of a rickshawallah and take seriously the view of some pen pusher who is in a privileged position to have his opinions published? I am not hankering after acclaim anymore. I am dying to be part of memorable films. Actors are never remembered. Their films are. You may be the best actor in the world but you will be forgotten if your films don't stand the test of time. I am dying to be part of films that are remembered. Shammi Kapoor (whom I never tire of praising and whom I consider as one of the finest actors the industry has ever produced) is never talked about as an actor because he didn't do many memorable films. The other most gifted actor was Mehmood. Remember Sadhu Aur Shaitaan, Padosan…? He was considered the star of a film."
(Excerpts from the interview)
http://www.filmfare.com/articles/naseeruddin-shah-i-dont-give-a-fiddlers-fart-for-awards-395.html
Sports
Health and Fitness
Fan Fictions
12