Paresh Rawal says he'll listen to Naseeruddin Shah, Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan's criticism of govt: ‘They have no special agenda, no axe to grind'
Paresh Rawal is a former Member of Parliament under the Bhartiya Janata Party. But the actor doesn't mind his colleagues from the Hindi film industry voice their criticism against the ruling party. He said celebrities like Naseeruddin Shah, Aamir Khan, and Shah Rukh Khan are devoid of any 'hidden agenda.'
'If Naseer bhai, Aamir or Shah Rukh have something to say, I can't discard that. I'll listen to them because they have no hidden agenda, they have no axe to grind. They're saying it for my own benefit. So I'll listen, introspect, and try to improve. It doesn't make a difference. I respect them, they love me,' said Paresh.
In the interview with The Lallantop, Paresh Rawal hailed Naseeruddin Shah as one of the few in the Hindi film industry who say whatever is in their heart. 'You feel very safe and satisfied around people like these. Otherwise you can't keep looking over your shoulder again and again,' added Paresh.
In an interview with The Lallantop last year, Naseeruddin's wife Ratna Pathak Shah also opened up on their lasting personal and professional equation with Paresh despite differing political ideologies. 'We're all from a time when political beliefs didn't come in the way of interpersonal relationships. This is a more recent trend. But as long as I'm around, I won't let that happen. Nor would I let it happen to the ones I love,' said Ratna, who has starred with Paresh in films like Jaane Tu Ya Jane Naa and Hum Do Humare Do.
Naseeruddin Shah has been a vocal critic of the BJP -led government, particularly in terms of the discrimination against Muslims. Paresh considers Naseeruddin as his idol. He has also directed the veteran actor on stage in the play, The Sleuth. Naseeruddin returned the favour when he cast Paresh in his 2006 directorial debut Yun Hota Toh Kya Hota. They've also shared screen space in Mahesh Bhatt's 1993 relationship drama Sir.
Aamir Khan famously expressed his concern about religious intolerance in 2015, confessing that he's been contemplating leaving the country so that his younger son Azad has a safe upbringing. Paresh has worked with Aamir in films like Rajkumar Santoshi's 1994 cult comedy Andaz Apna Apna and Mansoor Khan's relationship drama Akele Hum Akele Tum.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
Since 1960, poll rolls being shared with parties: CEC Gyanesh Kumar
NEW DELHI: In a first but indirect rejoinder to Rahul Gandhi's allegations of enrolment of fake voters for Maharashtra polls, chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar underscored the statutory sharing of electoral rolls with all recognised political parties year after year since 1960, with a provision for them to make claims, objections and appeals. Delivering the inaugural address at the International Conference on Electoral Integrity (IDEA) in Stockholm on Tuesday, Kumar described the annual roll revision exercise in India as "the world's most rigorous and transparent", adding that it reinforced the accuracy and integrity of the electoral process. He noted that "this robust mechanism plays a vital role in upholding electoral credibility across the country, year after year". Rahul recently reiterated his charge that BJP owed its landslide win in Maharashtra last year to an unusual surge in number of voters after Lok Sabha polls. Officials in Election Commission, speaking anonymously, had dismissed the charge, saying addition of votes in Maharashtra was less than the increase in number of voters for Telangana and Jharkhand polls which were won by Congress and its allies. Congress kept up its protest, while also emphasising that EC officials had not spoken "on record". by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 오스템 임플란트 받아가세요 임플란터 더 알아보기 Undo Apprising the participants - representing election management bodies (EMBs) of around 50 countries - about the massive scale of Indian elections conducted under the watch of political parties, candidates, observers and the media, the CEC said the poll panel, with over 20 million personnel, including polling staff, police forces and observers, "becomes the world's largest organisation, surpassing the combined workforce of several national govts and major global corporations and ensures that India's nearly one billion electors are freely able to exercise their franchise". Kumar traced the evolution of Indian elections over the decades, noting how the system has adapted to increasing complexity while staying rooted in constitutional values. "From 173 million electors in 1951-52 to 979 million in 2024, and from just 0.2 million polling stations in the early years to over 1.05 million today, India's electoral journey has demonstrated both institutional foresight and unmatched scale," he said. Kumar added that 743 political parties and 20,271 candidates contested elections across the country using 6.2 million EVMs. Reflecting on the inclusive design of Indian elections, Kumar said the electoral process serves first-time voters, senior citizens aged 85+, persons with special abilities, third-gender electors, and voters in the most inaccessible regions with equal care and commitment. From polling booths with a single elector to highest altitude stations like Tashigang in Himachal Pradesh, India's commitment to leaving no voter behind is reiterated as a constitutional principle rather than a logistical challenge, he said.
Time of India
34 minutes ago
- Time of India
Shivangi Verma hits back after Govind Namdev reveals the story behind their viral photo: 'Buzurg satiya jaate hain'
Veteran actor , 70, recently broke his silence on the dating rumours involving his 31-year-old co-star Shivangi Verma. He revealed that their viral photo was part of a planned publicity strategy for their upcoming film Gaurishankar Goharganj Wale. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now However, it appears that is not at all pleased with this revelation. Govind Namdev clarifies the viral photo In an exclusive interview with ETimes, Namdev explained, 'When the film was being prepared, we had a discussion with the director, producer, and Shivangi about planning a strong publicity strategy. I agreed that it was necessary,' he said, adding that they had taken photos during morning workouts and shoot days. Namdev said that Shivangi herself had suggested the idea of projecting them as a romantic pair to generate buzz. 'Shivangi insisted that we should have a romantic pairing, that the images needed to convey a certain chemistry. I agreed, but also asked what kind of content she had in mind,' he explained. 'She said, 'There's a lot. Content matters most.' I thought, fine, let's do it.' However, he said things went south when she proceeded with tagging and posting content without informing him. 'That's where the misunderstanding started. People began speculating about us, and frankly, I didn't appreciate it. That's why I stopped talking to her,' he stated. Shivangi posts a scathing message on Instagram Shivangi didn't take these remarks lightly. On Wednesday evening, she took to her Instagram Stories and posted a scathing message in Hindi: 'Sahi kaha hai kisi ne, buzurg badhti umr mein satiya jaate hain...G***** Tired of too many ads? go ad free now N*****.' The comment, roughly translated to 'Old people lose their senses with age,' was seen as a direct dig at Namdev. The use of his initials left little doubt about whom she was referring to. 'I'm not here to prove anything,' says Namdev In the same interview, Namdev also addressed rumours suggesting that his marriage with wife Sudha Namdev had hit a rough patch due to the controversy. 'There were rumours that my household was affected and me and my wife were considering living separately. I didn't react then, and I don't react now. Everyone can see the truth,' he said. 'The more I raped, murdered, misbehaved onscreen, the more I got close to my family,' says popular villain Govind Namdev He added that the situation forced him to speak up, especially after people close to him expressed concern. 'People had begun feeling sorry for me — not just the audience, but even close friends and family. So yes, as a respected actor, I felt a responsibility to speak up. That's why I shared two posts initially — just to set the record straight.'
Time of India
35 minutes ago
- Time of India
Protest heat rises in poll-bound Ludhiana
Bathinda: With the Ludhiana West byelection looming, the city is now on the radar of protesters of various hues — a pattern observed in previous poll-bound areas like Bathinda during the SAD-BJP tenure and Patiala-Chamkaur Sahib under the Congress govt. While some employee and unemployed unions are already holding agitations, the family of a deceased village sarpanch and members of various organisations are set to descend on Ludhiana on Thursday for a candle march. Their target: Guru Harsahai MLA Fauja Singh Sarari and his personal assistant, Bachittar Singh, demanding immediate action against them for alleged abetment to suicide. The protesters plan to converge near Gate Number 1 of Punjab Agriculture University, a stone's throw from the AAP election office for the Ludhiana West byelection. They intend to hold a protest march. Jashan Bawa, 24, the sarpanch of Trinda village and an AAP member, died by suicide on May 31. His family alleges that Bawa was driven to the extreme step due to continuous harassment by MLA Sarari and his personal assistant. On June 9, villagers and various organisations staged a protest at Lakho Ke Behram police station, disrupting the Ferozepur-Fazilka highway to demand justice. Ferozepur police have formed a special investigations team (SIT), comprising two SP-level officers and one DSP, to investigate the matter and determine the MLA's alleged role in the incident. MLA Sarari has denied the allegations, attributing them to a smear campaign by certain individuals, including members of his own party. Meanwhile, a separate wave of protests is set to hit Ludhiana on June 16, organised by the Narinderdeep death action committee. They are demanding a judicial inquiry into the alleged custodial death of 34-year-old IELTS teacher Narinderdeep, who died in Bathinda on May 23. The committee is also demanding the nomination of the CIA-2 in-charge in the case, the arrest of implicated police officers, a government job for a bereaved family member, and compensation. MSID:: 121782120 413 |
