'Muslims should be worried about education instead of Sania Mirza's skirt length': Naseeruddin Shah

Naseeruddin Shah, Sania Mirza Pic/Instagram

Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah sat down for a candid interview following the results of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024. As someone vocal about current affairs without mincing his words, the actor criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi who took the oath for a third consecutive term.

In an interaction with The Wire, Shah spoke about how it is easy to hold PM Modi accountable for everything, however, underlying problems with the Muslim community existed even before his tenure. He said, "Muslims are worrying about all the wrong things like the Hijab and the length of Sania Mirza's skirt. They should be instead worried about education, enlightening, modern ideas instead of Madrassas. The Muslims have been at fault."

When asked to comment on the PM's cabinet for the third time and Muslim representation he said, "Modi seems fond of headgear. I'd like to see him wear a skullcap someday… just wearing a skullcap would be a gesture. After his refusal to wear a skullcap at a function (in 2011), where the maulvis presented him with one, it is difficult to erase that memory. But if he does, it would be a gesture that ‘I am not separate from you. You and I are citizens of the same country. I have no aversion to you'. If he were to convince the Muslims of this country of that I think that would be a great help."

Naseeruddin acted in movies such as ‘Hum Paanch', ‘Nishant', ‘Aakrosh', ‘Sparsh', ‘Mirch Masala', ‘Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Ata Hai', ‘Bhavni Bhavai', ‘Junoon', ‘Mandi', ‘Ardh Satya', ‘Katha', ‘Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro', ‘Ijaazat', ‘Jalwa', ‘Ghulami', ‘Mohra',' Monsoon Wedding' among others. Every time, he took up any role, be it commercial or unconventional, he proved his acting prowess. He was last seen in the web series ‘Showtime' starring Emraan Hashmi, Mahima Makwana, Mouni Roy, Rajeev Khandelwal, Vijay Raaz, and Shriya Saran.

Meanwhile, on the work front, he will be seen with Vijay Varma, Fatima Sana Shaikh, and Sharib Hashmi in a film titled 'Ul Jal Jalool Ishq'. The film will be produced by designer Manish Malhotra under his production banner Stage 5 Production. The music for the film will be given by Gulzar and Vishal Bhardwaj.