Naseeruddin Shah (born July 20, 1950) is one of the icons of New Indian Cinema along with Smita Patil , Shabana Azmi and Om Puri. Shah was born in Delhi and educated at the National School of Drama in Delhi.

Like many of the other actors of his genre, Naseeruddin Shah was first noticed by Shyam Benegal. He acted in Benegal's Nishant (1975), Manthan and Bhumika (1976). One of his most intense performances was given in Saeed Mirza 's Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Aata Hai (What makes Albert Pinto angry?, 1980). In the movie, he plays a garage mechanic from Goa who dreams of the expensive cars that he repairs but that are far beyond his reach. The film is set in a Catholic setting, primarily because Mirza did not have the courage to tackle Muslim issues. Naseeruddin Shah has also acted for other New Indian Cinema directors including Mrinal Sen (Khandan, 1983) and Sai Paranjpye (Sparsh, 1979).

Besides these serious roles, he has a penchant for comedy. His roles in Ketan Mehta's films and also in films like Mandi, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron, and Mohan Joshi Hazir Ho! (1983), have endeared him to the Indian public. He has also not shied away from accepting roles in mainstream Hindi movies where he has played a variety of characters, though his slight frame has ensured that he is most often cast in a comic role. However, directors also utilize his great acting talent when a character role has to be played.

Naseeruddin Shah has also played and directed English and Hindi plays. With his wife Ratna Pathak , Naseeruddin Shah continues to act regularly in plays, often at Shashi Kapoor's Prithvi Theatre.

Awards

He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2003.

Shah was recently seen in Teen Diwarein and Mira Nair's Monsoon Wedding. He also played Captain Nemo in the 2003 film The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. He worked in a Bollywood adaption of Shakespeare's Macbeth, titled Maqbool.

Filmography

• The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)
• Monsoon Wedding (2002)
• Such A Long Journe (2000)
• Hey! Ram (2000)
• The Perfect Murder (1990)
• Mirch Masala (1989)
• Genesis (1988)
• Bombay Boys
• Mr. Ahmed
• Mane
• Electric Moon
• Katha
• Pestonjee
• Bhopal Express
• Junoon
• Mandi
• Ardh Satya
• Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron
• Mohan Joshi Haazir Ho
• Holi
• Nishant
• Manthan
• Bhumika
• Chakra
• Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Aata Hai
• Aakrosh
• Bhavni Bhavai
• Trikal
• Aghaat
• Yeh woh manzil to nahin
• Gaja Gamini
• Maqbool
• The Great New Wonderful
• Ijazaat

Sources

• Vasudev, Aruna. The New Indian Cinema. New Delhi: Macmillan, 1986
• Rajadhyaksha, Ashish; Willemen, Paul. Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema. London: British Film Institute; New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1994
• Kishore, Valicha. The Moving Image. Hyderabad: Orient Longman, 1988