Naseeruddin Shah recalls working '3 shifts a day' just for money: No worse torture
Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah recently opened up about the harsh realities of working in the film industry and the personal toll it can take on an artiste. He recalled once working three back-to-back shifts in a single day.Speaking on the Aadyam Theatre podcast, the acclaimed actor recalled a time when financial necessity pushed him to take on multiple film projects simultaneously, a decision he later came to regret."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 films just for the money. And I realised no amount of money is worth this agony, jumping from one set to another," Shah shared.advertisementWhile reflecting on those hectic days, Shah shed light on the often-unspoken realities of the film industry. "Half the time, you're just socialising on set. You arrive for a 9 am shift, then spend another hour or so having breakfast, enjoying the scenery, and gossiping. I know someone who'd love that," referring to his wife and fellow actor Ratna Pathak Shah playfully.Ratna, who also participated in the conversation, offered her own perspective on work and artistic commitment. "I've done very little work that is of high quality. Most of my work has been on television, so that's not the kind of quality we refer to when we talk about great art. But I've realised that if I don't give it my all, if I don't apply the same skills I use while doing theatre, then it neither sounds nor looks right," she said.advertisement
She added, "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 split 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 on that."The couple's respect for each other's work was clear when Ratna, speaking at the FICCI FLO Hyderabad Summit, said she admires Naseeruddin's strong focus on his work, but also feels a bit jealous of it. '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."Naseeruddin Shah was most recently seen in 'Fateh', Sonu Sood's directorial debut, alongside Jacqueline Fernandez, Vijay Raaz, and Dibyendu Bhattacharya. Released in February, the cyber-thriller followed the journey of an ex-agent fighting a cyber mafia but received mixed reviews and modest box office returns, earning Rs19.06 crore worldwide.Must Watch
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