Naseeruddin Shah: Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is completely fake
Veteran actor’s comments about the film have drawn criticism from many.
Shah feels that although Farhan Akhtar looked terrific in the film, he did not look like Milkha Singh. PHOTO: FILE
Bollywood star Naseeruddin Shah has drawn criticism from others in the industry, after slamming Farhan Akhtar’s Bhaag Milkha Bhaag at a recent event.
“[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.
“[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.