New Delhi: Famous for his forthright comments, Naseeruddin Shah is back in the director's chair after 17 years with 'Man Woman Man Woman,' which also stars Ratna Pathak Shah, his wife. Recently, Naseeruddin subtly criticised the Sunny Deol film Gadar 2 for being "jingoistic" and "regressive" in tone. Since its premiere on August 11, ‘Gadar 2’, directed by Anil Sharma, has broken several box office records. The film's total box office earnings in India have exceeded Rs 500 crore mark.
In an interview with Free Press Journal, Naseeruddin Shah expressed concern that jingoism was becoming the driving force behind the success of Bollywood films.
He said, "Now the more jingoist you are, the more popular you become, because this is what has been ruling this country. It’s not enough to love your country, but beat drums about it and you have to create imaginary enemies. What these people don’t realise is that what they are doing is very harmful. In fact, films like 'Kerala Story' and 'Gadar 2', I haven’t seen them but I know what they are about."
Additionally, Shah spoke out in favour of filmmakers who are attempting to create works that are honest representations of the society we live in. He explained, “It’s important that these filmmakers don’t lose heart and continue telling stories. They will be responsible for posterity. Hundred years later people will see Bheed and they will also see Gadar 2 and see which one portrays the truth of our times because film is the only medium which could do that.”
He added, “It’s hard to resort to abstraction and capture life as it is. So regressive is a pretty mild word for what’s going on."
Naseeruddin Shah made his directorial debut in 2006 with ‘Yun Hota Toh Kya Hota’, which starred the late Irrfan Khan and Konkana Sen Sharma.
ALSO READ: Akshay Kumar Congratulates Shah Rukh Khan For Jawan's Success Latter Says, 'Aapne Dua Maangi...'