Naseeruddin Shah is a famous Indian actor and director. He was born on 20 July 1950 in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, India. He began his acting career with Shyam Benegal’s drama film Nishant and went on to star in path-breaking films like Umrao Jaan (1981), Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983), Ardh Satya (198), Sarfarosh (1999), Monsoon Wedding (2001), Being Cyrus (2006), and A Wednesday (2008).
The actor, in 2006, turned director with the drama film Yun Hota Toh Kya Hota. For his immense contribution to Indian cinema, this multiple National Film Award-winning actor was felicitated with the coveted Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan, in 1987 and 2003, respectively.
The year 2007 saw Naseeruddin Shah, venture into Pakistani cinema with the drama film Khuda Kay Liye. Starring Shaan, Fawad Khan, and Iman Ali in the lead roles, the movie was screened at numerous international film festivals, winning praise all over.
He further starred in Neeraj Pandey’s A Wednesday, Anusha Rizvi’s Peepli Live, Abhishek Chaubey’s Ishqiya, Anurag Kashyap’s That Girl in Yellow Boots, and Milan Luthria’s The Dirty Picture.
In 2016, he paired with Kalki Koechlin for Anu Menon’s drama comedy Waiting. Screened at the London Asian Film Festival, the movie opened to positive reviews by the critics, with the performances of both protagonists being particularly praised.
His 2017 releases include Shaad Ali’s romantic drama film OK Jaanu, starring Aditya Roy Kapur and Shraddha Kapoor in the lead; and Aparnaa Singh and Nishant Tripathi’s drama film Irada, co-starring an ensemble of actors like Arshad Warsi, Divya Dutta, Sharad Kelkar, and Sagarika Ghatge in lead roles.
In 1988, he acted in the eponymous television series based on the life and times of Mirza Ghalib, directed by Gulzar, and telecast on DD National.
In the same year, he portrayed the Maratha King Shivaji in another TV series Bharat Ek Khoj, based on Jawaharlal Nehru’s book The Discovery of India, helmed by celebrated filmmaker Shyam Benegal.
Naseeruddin Shah’s maiden directorial venture was the movie Yun Hota Toh Kya Hota, starring Konkona Sen Sharma, Ayesha Takia, Jimmy Shergill, Paresh Rawal, Boman Irani, Saroj Khan and Irrfan Khan in important roles. Based on the 9/11 attacks, the movie opened to mixed reviews.
Naseeruddin Shah was married to Manara Sikri and had a daughter, Heeba, with her. In the 1970s, Shah met and fell in love with Ratna Pathak, the daughter of Dina Pathak, a well-respected character actress. Shah has two sons, Imaad and Vivaan, both of whom are actors. The couple lives in Mumbai with Heeba, Imaad, and Vivaan.