Anupam Kher opened up about his equation with his A Wednesday co-star Naseeruddin Shah after the 2020 controversy where the latter had called Kher a “joker” and a “sycophant”.
National School of Drama alumni Anupam Kher and Naseeruddin Shah have worked together in several films including the 2008 film A Wednesday. In the film, Naseeruddin plays a common man who is frustrated with the incompetence of the ruling authorities and dispenses vigilant justice, while Anupam plays the Commissioner of Mumbai Police. In real life too, Naseeruddin Shah is known for being outspoken and sharing his political views. In an interview in 2020, while defending Deepika Padukone’s move to support students at JNU, Naseeruddin Shah called Anupam Kher a “joker” and a “sycophant”, which sparked controversy as well as a war of words between the two co-stars.
Now, years later, Anupam Kher spoke about his equation with his fellow actor and said, “It is important to respond to people.”
In an interview with Shubhankar Mishra, the Saransh actor shared, “I never tried to spoil my personal relationship with anyone. I have a lot of respect for Naseeruddin sir. But, when Naseeruddin sir makes some inappropriate comments about me, you cannot keep quiet.”
He further added, “I have read the Bhagavad Gita. In it, Krishna tells Arjuna, ‘None of the people standing here are your family. You have to do what is right.’ When it comes to your principles, no matter who it is, you have to speak the truth. And I am someone who speaks the truth. Even after that, we both met at my CA’s funeral, and we hugged each other. Yes, you see a change in my love for him, but, we are still friends.”
Anupam Kher said, “He said it is in my blood, it was important for me to respond to him while maintaining the dignity of that person.”
The controversy started in 2020, when in an interview to The Wire, Naseeruddin Shah said, “One has to admire the courage of a girl like Deepika who is at the top and still takes such a step. Even though she has a lot to lose. Let’s see how she takes it. She will lose some endorsements, for sure. Will it make her poor? Will it reduce her popularity? Will it make her less beautiful than before? They will think about it sooner or later. The film industry only worships money.”
Talking about Anupam Kher, who has been vocal in his support of the government, Naseer said, “A person like Anupam Kher has been very vocal. I don’t think he needs to be taken seriously. He is a clown. Many of his contemporaries from NSD and FTII can attest to his sycophantic nature. It is in his blood, he cannot escape it.”
In his reply, Anupam Kher wrote on his ex’s account, “I have never said anything bad about you, nor have I ever said anything bad about you. But now I would like to say that you have spent your entire life, despite so much success, in disappointment. If you can criticise Dilip Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna, Shah Rukh Khan and Virat Kohli, then I am sure I am in good company.”
He further added, “Also, none of these people took your statements seriously. Because we know it’s not you speaking but all the substances you have consumed over the years. They have blurred your judgement of what is right and what is wrong. If saying bad things about me gets you headlines for a few days, that’s my gift to you.”
Naseeruddin Shah and Anupam Kher last worked together in the 2018 film Aiyaary.
