Naseeruddin Shah to quit films?

After over three decades in the film industry, it seems actor Naseeruddin Shah has had enough. With only one film in hand, Milan Luthria’s Dirty Picture, he’s currently busy directing a play By George! which will premiere tomorrow.

After over three decades in the film industry, it seems actor Naseeruddin Shah has had enough. With only one film in hand, Milan Luthria’s Dirty Picture, he’s currently busy directing a play By George! which will premiere tomorrow. At the outset, he hinted that he finds theatre more exciting than cinema, and plans to shift his focus towards the stage.

“I might be slowing down a little from next year,” he says, in the midst of rehearsals for By George! “Theatre is what I really enjoy and I want to focus more on it. I’ve had my fill of films and I’m losing hope that we’ll ever make good ones.”

Point out that the accusation may be a little strong and Naseer is quick to reason, “I’ve kept the hope alive for over three decades now, but it’s beginning to flicker. For every Anurag (Kashyap) or Dibakar (Banerjee), there are a thousand people wanting to make nonsense, and managing to make it. Everyone’s making money, and more strength to them, but I don’t see great movies emerging just yet.”

With Dirty Picture set to go on the floors in May, Naseer has not looked at any other scripts. But his role of an ageing South Indian superstar is something he is looking forward to. The actor says, “There are a lot of them down south who wear hideous wigs, dark glasses and have painted-on moustaches. They’re almost like real-life caricatures. I’m playing such a man.”

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Another facet of Naseer’s role, and perhaps one that has been spoken of far more, is the gamut of intimate scenes he will share with Vidya Balan, whom he has also romanced in Ishqiya. But he brushes off any notions that he is taking them too seriously. “I haven’t performed too many intimate scenes in the past, but I do know from experience that the more seriously you take them, the more difficult they become to execute,” Naseer explains.

On a possible Ishqiya sequel, he adds, “I’ve only heard about that in the media, but I hope it gets made. I don’t think it’ll be any time soon.”

Fools’ Day Contest

Well, Naseeruddin Shah has had enough of “nonsensical” Bollywood, and he is considering quitting films! That wasn't the April fool joke in

HT Cafe’s edition yesterday. The twisted story related to Lady Gaga changing profession, joining as editor of V magazine. The real story: She’s turned columnist for the same mag. Yeah, we’re a bit lame like that! Congratulations to the smarties who got it right, winners will be individually contacted to pick up their prize.