Naseeruddin Shah considers current Bollywood films as 'just fluff'

Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah has been credited for several path breaking films in India. The actor has been part of several films that have been issue-based and thought provoking. But Shah seems to be disappointed with the kinds of films that Bollywood is making in present times. 

The actor, who has been a part of some 200 films including cult classics such as 'Shatranj Ke Khiladi', 'Nishant', 'Aakrosh', 'Sparsh', 'Mirch Masala', 'Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Ata Hai','Junoon', 'Mandi', 'Ardh Satya', 'Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro' and 'A Wednesday', said films being made today are just "fluff".

"You will be hard put to find anything original, anything creative, anything stimulating, anything that would give you food for thought, or anything that would make you question. It is all just fluff," the actor said during a session a literary event recently. 

The 68-year-old actor said he was "not optimistic of the film world in Bombay", and was consciously steering clear of projects that were not stimulating enough.

"I don't think I want to be a part of those kinds of movies any longer. So, I am doing parts that don't stretch me very much, and I am paid well, and I no longer shoot for 60 days for any film," Shah said.

Shah though continues to associate himself with theatre and his theatre group 'Motley' established in 1979 is considered as one of the most respected theatre groups in the country. 

"In theatre, you can engage with the greatest writers of the last thousand years. You can pick up a play by (William) Shakespeare, (George Bernard) Shaw or any other writer and do it. Finding a Shakespeare or a Shaw in the Hindi film industry is very difficult," he reason.

According to the national film award-winning Shah, it won't be long before cinema halls fade into oblivion as digital video streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon become increasingly popular.
"It is the future," he said.

While it may be a "tragedy" for he had spent some of his "happiest times in cinema halls", he admits that watching films was increasingly becoming a "one-on-one" experience.

"The collective experience is going and people are now watching films on their phones," he said.

However, this is a development he is not entirely critical of.

"That perhaps illustrates a very important point... That the content of the movie is what they are looking at, not the visual confectionery that is being provided," he said. 

(With inputs from PTI)