Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah has expressed his dismay over the controversy that has erupted over his participation in the event of the launch of a book by former Pakistani foreign minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri in Mumbai on Monday. The actor said that it is the first time that he is reminded of his Muslim identity.
“My name is Naseeruddin Shah and I believe that’s why I was targeted. It really pains me to say this. I have never ever been aware of my identity until now,” the celebrated actor told India Today Rajdeep Sardesai, the consulting editor of India Today TV.
The event was attended by film actor Naseeruddin Shah, noted lawyer and historian AG Noorani and journalist Dileep Padgaonkar and who were panelists at the launch. The book was launched in the face of stiff protests by the Shiv Sena.
Feeling dejected, Shah said that he was misunderstood and misreported in media about his comments on Pakistan. He says “I was quite astounded that what I said was reported in news channel where everything I stated was interpreted as being anti-Indian and there was nothing of the sort that I had actually said.”
He added, “what AG Noorani and Dileep Padgaonkar said was not quoted at all and they raised far more pertinent points than I did. But what they said was ignored, only what I said was dwelt on. I don’t understand why I am being picked on.”
“Four generations of my family have lived in India. I am proud to be an Indian and I will not allow anybody to question my patriotism,” the 66-year-old actor said, asking what was so “anti-Indian” in praising the good things about Pakistan. The veteran actor further said, “I do not actually understand that why anything said as a compliment to Pakistan must be construed as anti-Indian.
If I say Imran Khan is great, does that make Sunil Gavaskar any less a cricketer?” he asked.
When asked about his view on writers returning their awards protesting against what they believe is a climate of rising intolerance in the country under the present central government, Shah said, “I wish that the protest had been made through their works. I wish those writers, instead of returning their awards, had written more strongly on what is happening to India in protest. “Awards mean nothing to me and therefore I won’t bother returning them,” Shah, a recipient of Padma Bhushan, Sangeet Natak Akademi and other prestigious awards, said.
Standing by his comments that he made earlier that its pity that performances of Pakistani artist are disrupted in India and that his Pakistan events never got disrupted, Shah said “hate mongers are unfortunately having a field day in India today.”
Replying to the question on Shiv Sena’s argument that terror and cricket or music couldn’t coexist, Shah said, “The people who sponsor terror aren’t the same who bring message of peace across the border.” He further said, “You have to make a difference and couldn’t tar everybody with the same brush.”
“It’s high time” he said when asked if he believes there is any possibility of separating cricket and music from politics. “The fact is that these events are disrupted is an attempt to disrupt any attempt at peace and harmony between the two countries,” Shah said.