Naseeruddin Shah: Biography, Age, Height, Education, Family, Career & more.
Profile:-
| Real Name: | Naseeruddin Shah |
| Date of Birth: | 20th July 1950, Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh |
| Age (as of 2023): | 73 years |
| Height (approx.): | 5’7” Feet |
| Weight (approx.): | 70 kg |
| Eye color: | Dark Brown |
| Hair color: | White |
| Profession: | Actor, Director |
| Years Active: | 1972-Present |
| Educational Qualification: | Graduate in Arts |
| Siblings: | Zameeruddin shah and 2 more brothers |
| Religion: | Islam |
| Nationality: | Indian |
| Zodiac sign: | Leo |
| Marital Status: | married |
| Spouse: | 1st wife Late Parveen Murada
2nd wife Ratna Pathak |
| Children: | 2 sons and 1 Daughter |
| Hobbies: | Playing Tennis and Reading |
| Hometown: | Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh |
Short Bio:-
Naseeruddin Shah was born in the village of Barabanki in Uttar Pradesh. He is well-known in Indian parallel cinema. Naseeruddin has also appeared in international projects. He has an extensive list of awards. Naseeruddin is an outstanding Bollywood performer who has received multiple awards for his notable parts in a variety of films. In honor of his great contributions to Indian film, the actor has also earned the Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri awards.
Personal Life:-
On July 20, 1949, Naseeruddin Shah was born in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh. He was the youngest of his parents’ three boys. His father’s name was Aley Mohammed Shah, and his mother’s name was Farrukh Sultan. Naseeruddin Shah received most of his education in Nainital before graduating from Aligarh Muslim University, where he fell in love with theatre.
Naseeruddin earned his bachelor’s degree in arts from the famed Aligarh Muslim University in 1971 and then went on to study at the National School of Drama in Delhi. After perfecting his art in this mecca for stage performers, Naseeruddin Shah enrolled at FTII (Film and Television Institute of India), Pune, which was previously known as the Pune Film Institute. There, Naseeruddin met people like Tom Alter and Om Puri, with whom he shared his passion for acting, widening his viewpoint and cultivating the artist within him.
Family:-
Naseeruddin Shah was born to Aley Mohammed Shah and Farrukh Sultan.
Naseeruddin has three brothers: Retd. Lt. General Zameeruddin Shah, the eldest brother, and two more. His brother, Zameeruddin Shah, was a Lieutenant General in the Indian Army and the Vice-Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University.
First Wife: Parveen Murada
In 1969, Naseeruddin was a 20-year-old graduate student at Aligarh Muslim University when he first met Parveen Murad (Naseeruddin Shah’s First Wife), a 34-year-old medical intern who was also a student at the same university. On November 1, 1969, he married the late Parveen Murada aka Manara Sikri.
Second Wife: Ratna Pathak
However, in the 1970s and 1980s, Naseeruddin fell in love with actress Ratna Pathak. Naseeruddin then divorced his first wife, Manara Sikri, and married Ratna Pathak on 1 April 1982.
Children:
Naseeruddin has a daughter, actress Heeba Shah, with his first wife. He has two boys with his second wife: Imaad Shah and Vivaan Shah. Both of his sons are actors.
Grandchildren:
Naseeruddin is a grandparent. Abraham and Iliana are his grandchildren.
Career:-
As an Actor:
With the film ‘Nishant’ (1975), Naseeruddin made his acting debut. After then, he appeared in various films, including ‘Aakrosh’, ‘Mirch Masala’, ‘Sparsh’, ‘Trikal’, ‘Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Ata Hai’, ‘Bhavani Bhavai’, ‘Mohan Joshi Hazir Ho!’, ‘Junoon’, ‘Mandi’, ‘Ardh Satya’, ‘Katha’, and others. In 1977, Naseeruddin and Tom Alter, and Benjamin Gilani founded a theatre company named ‘Motley Production.’ Their first production was Samuel Beckett’s ‘Waiting for Godot,’ which was later presented at the Prithvi Theatre in 1979. However, Naseeruddin broke into mainstream Bollywood cinema with the film ‘Hum Paanch.’
Naseeruddin’s significant film, ‘Masoom,’ was released in 1983 and was shot at St. Joseph College, Nainital, where he received his education. During the 1980s, Naseeruddin appeared in several films, including Ghulami (1985), Karma (1986), Ijaazat (1987), Jalwa (1988), and Hero Hiralal (1989). Gulzar directed a TV series based on the life of Mirza Ghalib in 1988, and he worked on it. In 1994, Naseeruddin appeared in his 100th film, ‘Mohra.’ In 1999, he received recognition for his performance in the film ‘Sarfarosh.’
In 2000, Naseeruddin played Mahatma Gandhi in Kamal Hassan’s critically acclaimed film ‘Hey Ram.’ In 2003, he co-starred in the Hollywood blockbuster ‘The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen with Sean Connery. In 2008, Neeraj Pandey’s film ‘A Wednesday’ was released, in which Naseeruddin portrayed an ordinary man. The film received positive reviews, and he was nominated for a Filmfare Best Actor Award.
In 2011, Naseeruddin starred in ‘The Dirty Picture’. He appeared in a cameo in the Pakistani film ‘Khuda Ke Liye’. Naseeruddin’s second Pakistani film, ‘Zinda Bhaag,’ was chosen as the country’s official entry for the 86th Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. In 2006, Naseeruddin made his directorial debut with the film ‘Yun Hota To Kya Hota’.
Television Career:
In 1988, Naseeruddin appeared in the eponymous television series based on Mirza Ghalib’s life and times, directed by Gulzar and broadcast on DD National. In the same year, he played Maratha King Shivaji in another TV series, Bharat Ek Khoj, based on Jawaharlal Nehru’s book The Discovery of India and directed by Shyam Benegal.
Stage Career:
Naseeruddin Shah still considers acting on stage to be his first and eternal love, despite his fame as a Hindi cinema actor. He has appeared in critically praised plays such as ‘Waiting for Godot’, ‘Dear Liar’, ‘Ismat Apa Ke Naam’, ‘A Walk in the Woods’, and ‘Einstein’.
Naseeruddin Shah’s theatrical group has directed various plays written by Haasan Manto, Ismat Chughtai, and Lavender Kumar.
Controversy:-
In an interview in 2016, Naseeruddin called the late actor Rajesh Khanna a “mediocre actor.” He went on to say that terrible actors like Rajesh Khanna were to blame for the mediocrity of 1970s cinema. Fans of Rajesh Khanna, on the other hand, were harshly critical of him.
In 2015, Naseeruddin Shah traveled to Pakistan to promote his memoir “And Then One Day” at Lahore University. While addressing the supporters at the University, he abruptly began talking about the hatred between India and Pakistan, saying, “Indians are being brainwashed into believing that Pakistan is an enemy country without being aware of the historical background.” Politicians will switch hues whenever it suits them. However, artists from both countries must see above the political antagonism.” This statement impacted India’s opinion and was attacked by numerous right-wing politicians.
In 2018, Naseeruddin made a communal statement, saying, “I am concerned for my children because tomorrow if a mob surrounds them and asks, ‘Are you a Hindu or a Muslim?’ they will have no answer.” It disturbs me that I don’t see the situation improving very soon”. Naseeruddin was ridiculed on social media for this, and his statement was heavily criticized by legislators.
Net worth:-
Naseeruddin Shah’s net worth is reported to be around $50 million, which is roughly Rs 375 crores in Indian Rupees. His annual earnings are estimated to be between 8 to 10 crores per film. He made his riches from his acting, directing, endorsements, and stage plays. Naseeruddin Shah is well-known for his charitable activity and has donated to a variety of social issues through his charitable foundation, the “Motley Theatre Group”.
Awards & Achievements::-
National Awards:
- Padma Shree (1987)
- Padma Bhushan (2003)
National Film Awards:
- Best Actor Award for the film, ‘Sparsh’ (1979)
- Best Actor Award for the film, ‘Paar’ (1984)
- Best Supporting Actor Award for the film, ‘Iqbal’ (2006)
Filmfare Awards:
- Best Actor Award for the film, ‘Aakrosh’ (1981)
- Best Actor Award for the film, ‘Chakra’ (1982)
- Best Actor Award for the film, ‘Masoom’ (1984)
- The Volpi Cup in the Venice Film Festival for the film ‘Paar’ (1984)
Facts:-
- Naseeruddin Shah is a descendent of Jan-Fishan Khan (Sayyid Muhammad Shah), a 19th-century Sayyid Afghan warrior who took part in the first Anglo-Afghan War and aided the English in the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
- Naseeruddin made his film debut in 1967 with the film ‘Aman,’ in which he played a little role as a youngster behind the deceased doctor. However, the film is not regarded as his debut because he did not play a mainstream part.
- Naseeruddin’s debut film, Nishant, was nominated for Oscar.
- Rajendra Jaspal, a fellow actor and classmate of Naseeruddin, once stabbed Naseeruddin Shah at FTII (Film and Television Institute of India). Jaspal envied his success as an actor. However, Naseeruddin Shah was saved by actor Om Puri.
- It is reported that Naseeruddin was asked to audition for the character of Albus Dumbledore in the film Harry Potter, but he declined.
