Shah feels that although Farhan Akhtar looked terrific in the film, he did not look like Milkha Singh. PHOTO: FILE
“[BMB] is a completely fake film. Farhan has no doubt worked very hard, but building up muscles and growing your hair is not exactly working hard on your acting. At least, he should have tried to look like Milkha. Milkha is mighty pleased by him and he imagines that this was his life; he imagined he looked like that. Doesn’t he have photographs of himself from 1960’s Olympics?” Shah said, according to Times of India.
Farhan has yet to respond to Shah’s comments, but his friends, along with others, have criticised Shah for his remarks.
Trade analyst Komal Nahta says, “As long as Farhan played the role well, closely resembled Milkha Singh, and the film made money, why should anything else matter?”
Filmmaker Sudhir Mishra says, “I have learned a lot from Naseer about acting because he was the hero in all the movies I assisted in. But here, I disagree with him. I think Farhan got the essence of the character right.”
Trade expert Atul Mohan says, “I don’t think anybody else except Milkha Singh has the right to judge the authenticity of the characterisation. Naseer saab should refrain from commenting on the acting abilities of someone.”
Farhan’s family and co-stars from the film have also spoken out in his defense. Divya Dutta, who played Farhan’s sister in the biopic, says, “I adore Naseer ji, but I disagree with him here. I saw the film get standing ovations in the theatres. You can’t fool the audience. Farhan looked like Milkha in the film.”
“It’s quite undignified of Naseer. It’s a publicity stunt when his film is about to release,” says a source close to Farhan.
Shah had also said, “All the girls screamed for him [Farhan] when he appeared and so on, which is lovely. He looked terrific, but he did not look like Milkha. It was just too fake a film. Yes, it was very beautifully shot, which makes it technically an excellent film.”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 25th, 2013.
Like Life & Style on Facebook, follow @ETLifeandStyle on Twitter for the latest in fashion, gossip and entertainment.
COMMENTS (9)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1732620609-0/Untitled-design-(9)1732620609-0-270x192.webp "you should have come to the stage diljit reacts to nimrat s concert post")
1732609662-0/Express-Tribune-(5)1732609662-0-270x192.webp "watch mohini dey reacts to affair rumours with ar rahman")
1732607724-0/Express-Tribune-(4)1732607724-0-270x192.webp "maya ali performs umrah shares photos on instagram")
1732600740-1/Untitled-design-(1)1732600740-1-270x192.webp "varun dhawan deletes linkedin profile within four days amid trolling")
It is people to decide , not you.
i loved the movie,it was beautifully filmed
@Raj - USA though i am not agree with what naseeruddin said. but acting wise you can't ignore him. have you not seen A WEDNESDAY.
I used to like Naseeruddin Shah very much in the 80' & 90's. He was a great actor then. But he is finished and his acting performance is nothing above average in the recent movies. He has a great voice though and this is the only thing that is carrying him.
Movie about Milkha is one of the best Bollywood movies. Who cares what Naseeruddin Shah says.
Most people don't know what Milkha looked liked when he was young, so looks does not really matter. i did not expect some thing like this from a great actor like Naseeruddin Shah.
jealousy?
Why did ET have to quote from Trade Experts and Trade Analysts on a media affair?