Legendary actor Naseeruddin Shah recently shared his disappointment after being disinvited from a Mumbai University event, which he believes is tied to his political views. Initially invited to the Jashn-e-Urdu celebration organized by the Urdu Department on February 1, Shah received the news that his participation was no longer needed just hours before the event.
He expressed frustration over the lack of an official explanation for the university’s decision and contested the claim that he had declined to attend. This abrupt change left him disheartened, particularly considering the event’s cultural and literary significance.
In a thought-provoking op-ed published in a prominent newspaper, Naseeruddin reflected on his four-decade commitment to mentoring aspiring actors. He revealed that he was informed of his disinvitation late on January 31, a move that shocked him. Shah pointed out that no apology or justification was provided by the university, and he alleged that a senior official accused him of making statements against the nation. He challenged this claim, asking for any evidence of such statements.
Discussing his political views further in the op-ed, Shah criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi, labeling him a “self-proclaimed Vishwaguru.” He articulated his ongoing disapproval of the Prime Minister’s approach and leadership, expressing that Modi’s “narcissism” has unsettled him. Shah stated he has not been impressed by anything the Prime Minister has accomplished in the past decade.
“I’ve often voiced criticism of the ruling party’s actions and lamented the erosion of civic sense in our society. Issues like the prolonged detention of student activists while rapists are granted bail, the unchecked aggression of cow vigilantes, and the rewriting of history alarm me,” he wrote.
He further lamented, “This is not the country I once knew and cherished. The rise of a ‘thought police’ and constant surveillance has turned a once vibrant discourse into a landscape of fear and hate.”