Naseeruddin Shah recently mourned the demise of the legendary actor Dilip Kumar. While he praised his performances, he questioned his contribution to cinema.
In a piece written for a news publication, Naseeruddin reportedly said that some of his works will undoubtedly survive the test of time but, given the position he was in, it is more than evident he didn’t do enough apart from acting and being involved in social causes close to his heart. The actor also added that the late iconic actor produced only one film, didn’t direct any, never passed on the benefit of his experience, didn’t bother to groom anyone, and apart from his pre-1970s performances, left behind no significant lessons for future actors. According to Shah, even his autobiography is but a rehash of old interviews.
Elaborating further, Naseeruddin added that it is baffling why a man as conscious of his place in history as he was should be reluctant to record his interaction with some of the admittedly great filmmakers of his time or say anything really informative about the nature of his work and technique.
Dilip Kumar left for his heavenly abode on July 7 after a prolonged illness. He is survived by his wife and yesteryear actress Saira Banu.
Naseeruddin Shah was suffering from pneumonia at the time of Dilip Kumar’s last few days and was admitted to a hospital. He recently got discharged after his recovery and is back home now.
