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Pink Villa
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
'There's no worse torture...': Naseeruddin Shah recalls his realization that 'no amount of money' was worth agony of tirelessly working
Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah is known for his honesty, and he recently opened up about the toll his hectic work schedule once took on him. Speaking candidly, Shah said, 'There's no worse torture in the world' than juggling three film shoots a day. In a brutally honest reflection, he revealed that there was a time in his career when he took on back-to-back films only for the money, a decision he now views with regret. Shah explained how the constant hopping from one film set to another left him exhausted. 'I was acting in several lovely movies just for money. And I realized no amount of money is worth this agony,' he admitted. According to the actor, the pressure wasn't just about delivering performances, it also involved wasting time in routines that felt pointless. He recalled how much of the day on set was often spent socializing, having breakfast, enjoying the surroundings, and indulging in gossip before actually getting to work. His wife, actor Ratna Pathak Shah, had a different experience. She shared on the Aadyam Theater YouTube podcast that she never had to endure the chaos of managing three shifts a day like her husband. She believed that doing fewer projects allowed her to stay true to her craft. Though she admitted most of her work wasn't of the highest quality, she emphasized that unless she gave her full effort, the result would never feel or sound right. Ratna also expressed that because she took on so few roles, she found it impossible to cut corners. She mentioned that while actors doing four shifts a day might be tempted to rush through roles, she felt a strong responsibility to give her best when a good project came her way after years. At the FICCI Flo Hyderabad summit, Ratna also reflected on her marriage, admitting that Naseeruddin's unwavering focus on his work had once left her feeling overshadowed. However, she had come to terms with it over time. She acknowledged his dedication and generosity, both as an actor and as a director, and appreciated the support he offered to others in bringing out their best performances. Married since 1982, Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah continue to collaborate on stage, demonstrating their shared love for theatre, even if their professional approaches differ. Naseeruddin Shah has delivered powerful performances in several iconic films across genres. In Masoom (1983), he portrayed a father grappling with guilt and responsibility, while Sparsh (1980) showcased his sensitive portrayal of a visually impaired principal. He brought depth to A Wednesday! (2008) as a mysterious vigilante and delivered a chilling performance in Nishant (1975), a landmark parallel cinema film. His roles in Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983), Iqbal (2005), Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyun Aata Hai (1980), and Pestonjee (1988) further reflect his range, making him one of Indian cinema's most respected and versatile actors.
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Naseeruddin Shah recalls doing three shifts a day for money: 'There is no worse torture'
Naseeruddin Shah is considered one of the best actors of Hindi cinema . He's known for many movies like ' Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro ', ' A Wednesday ' among others. But did you know that in the early days of his career, the actor has done some movies due to shortage of money. In a recent interview, he spoke about it and also admitted that he regretted 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." However, 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 added that she feels there is not point of doing work which is subpar. '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. Recenly, Ratna was at FICCI Flo Hyderabad summit, and said she feels resentful of her husband 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 added that she takes second place 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.
Indian Express
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Naseeruddin Shah says he did three shifts a day for money: ‘No worse torture in the world, no amount worth this agony'
Naseeruddin Shah has never shied away from admitting he did several movies in the 1980s and '90s only for the sake of money. However, he came to realise that it was a futile exercise. Meanwhile, his wife Ratna Pathak Shah is glad she didn't have to go through that, which allowed her to preserve the quality of her craft. '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,' said Naseeruddin. In a podcast on the YouTube channel of Aadyam Theatre, Ratna Pathak Shah 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 added there's no point of doing subpar work if you're doing such little 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. Also Read — 'Maa and Naseer had a more rocky relationship': When Ratna Pathak Shah recalled her family's disapproval of her marriage to Naseeruddin Shah and the key to their lasting relationship In the recent FICCI Flo Hyderabad summit, Ratna Pathak Shah admitted she was resentful of her husband's position, but has come to terms with it now. '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. '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. Ratna Pathak Shah and Naseeruddin Shah tied the knot in 1982 after dating for several years. They continue to work together on the stage.
