Old Wounds Reopen: Distasteful Comment Exposed

Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah has responded to filmmaker-actor Farhan Akhtar’s recent remark calling his old criticism of Bhaag Milkha Bhaag “distasteful.”

In a conversation with HT City, Naseeruddin addressed the controversy surrounding his 2013 comments about Farhan’s performance in the biopic. “He is right, but I think my statement has been exaggerated a bit,” the actor clarified.

Back in 2013, shortly after the release of Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Naseeruddin Shah had said that Farhan’s portrayal of Milkha Singh felt “fake.” He commented that while Farhan worked hard on his physique and hair, his acting lacked authenticity. He further added that the actor should have tried harder to resemble the real Milkha Singh.

Farhan Akhtar had later responded that he respected Naseeruddin immensely but wished the veteran had called him personally instead of making the remarks publicly. “Everyone is entitled to their opinion,” Farhan said, “but such feedback could have been shared privately, especially since we’ve worked together on Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara.”

Now, years later, Naseeruddin seems to be softening his stance, admitting that Farhan’s reaction was justified. “Farhan is right. My words were exaggerated a little,” he said, encouraging people to “read both statements” to understand the full context.

The resurfacing of this decade-old exchange highlights how fragile relationships in the film industry can be and how old comments, if left unresolved, can stir up new discussions even years later.