AG: Life hasn't been so bad to you.
NS: It hasn't. In fact the Bollywood industry has been kind. I cannot ever deny that but I keep knocking it because of its own pretensions particularly now because the whole world is talking about it and taking notice of the movies we make.
AG: Why are you running it down? I must say this, it seems that the whole world
NS: Well I did not like it. Is that a crime?
AG: No it isn't.
NS: ...and to say that so and so film I didn't like - I don't care whether the whole world liked it or not... and I respect the opinion of anybody who liked it but that's not going to change my opinion. I judge it from my own gut instincts. I've not been too vocal about what I feel about it... I have not spoken about it because I don't feel the need to speak about it. If someone asks me I will say what I feel.
AG: I am asking you... Did you think Amitabh Bachchan was good in that film?
NS: I've seen him perform way better than that. I thought he was chewing the scenery.
AG: That's a typical Naseerudin Shah comment.
NS: When you study Mr Bachchan's early work - and it's fashionable to say that ‘hamare zamane mein’ and all that stuff, but that's not what I am talking about - when you study his early work from a purely analytical point of view, his previous work... I applaud his continues success like everybody does. But I must say that I am deeply disappointed with the quality of work that he is churning out now when compared to what he was doing then and I am sure he will have a good answer to what ever I am saying but I as one person, out of 200 million, have felt let down by the quality of his work recently and by recently I mean over the last 15 years or so.
AG: I won't get predictable and ask you what you think of SRK and the others! and his father will be impressed by 'Black' but Naseeruddin Shah would cock one eyebrow and say so what's the big deal.
AG: But you know anything with Shabana Azmi and Naseeruddin Shah is magic isn't it? Two very intense, very different (actors). You had your differences, but I must say it is a magical combination.
NS: We trust each other. We are not extremely close with each other. We don't know each other. I seldom go to her house and I don't think she has ever come to my house either.
AG: Why?
NS: Well we just have different circles, different interests and I guess as people we don't find each other interesting enough.
AG: Very diplomatic? Naseeruddin Shah cannot be diplomatic.
NS: We have not become friends. But I had a feeling before we met that she and I would be cast together. I felt we are similar kinds of actors and as I thought we were cast together. I've been cast with her more than any other actor and I treasure the experience that I had with her. I felt that somehow we have to keep this relationship...
AG: Formal?
NS: Not formal. We have to be co-workers.
AG: Did you ever call her a pseudo-secularist, pseudo-intellectual at one point of time?
NS: No... I don't think she is an intellectual! Shabana (looks into camera). I hope you are watching. I never called you a pseudo intellectual. I mean I have called you a lot of other things! (Laughs)
AG: But if she's watching would you do a film with her again?
NS: Of course. Absolutely. Though she insists on believing that I would not and that every film I turned down or accept has something to do with her. It doesn't. It has to do with how I am feeling at that moment. I am looking forward to do a film with you again. It's just that the right thing hasn't come around.
But what I was saying was that I felt it is more important for Shabana and me to have a successful, clean, completely trusting, working relationship and in order to does that if a personal friendship has to go by the board, so be it. I think it has been right and I think because the two of us are not friends... not enemies either... because we are not in each other’s hair in our personal lives. I think that is what contributes to the immense faith that I've in her.
AG: And the respect you obviously have for her?
NS: Yes, the respect I have towards her as an actor and vice-versa I think.
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