Writers deserve more credit for epic characters, scenes: Naseeruddin Shah

Writing is a tough job. To write comprehensively and entertainingly is a big task, says Shah.

MUMBAI: Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah believes that most epic Bollywood characters became successful not only because of an actor's efforts, but also because they were well-written.

"I admire writers, and in my profession also I believe that a writer's contribution is most important. Whichever performance by any actor has been admired, it has been because those roles or scenes were well-written," the 62-year-old said here Tuesday at the launch of doctor-author Satyen Nabar's debut novel A Bolt Of Lightning.

"That's why only actors don't deserve all the credit. Writing is a tough job. To write comprehensively and entertainingly is a big task," he added.

Naseer also recalled a time when famous writer Gulzar was going through a tough phase but his writing helped him sail through troubled waters.

"Gulzar bhai told me once that when he was going through a tough time, when his films were failing, he had no reason to go to his office. But he said, 'I went there every morning, industriously, from 9:30am. to 1:30pm and he sat and wrote.

'I don't know what I wrote, most of that I have tossed away but that writing regularly kept him sane.' These are Gulzar bhai's own words," said Naseeruddin.

Some of Naseer's epic roles were in films Nishant, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron, Masoom, Ijaazat and Bazaar, Ishqiya and many more.

He was recently seen in the role of a police officer in Maximum.