Actor Naseeruddin Shah considers the popularity of “jingoistic” films like The Kashmir Files, The Kerala Story and Gadar 2 to be “detrimental”. He also feels that filmmakers make films that unnecessarily put “other communities” down. In a new interview, veteran actor expressed concern over the popularity of these films compared to films by directors like Hansal Mehta, Anubhav Sinha and Sudhir Mishra.
Speaking to The Free Press Journal, Naseeruddin was asked if the purpose of filmmaking in Bollywood has changed. “Now the more jingoists you are, the more popular you become, because this is the country that rules,” he replied. It’s not enough to love your country but you have to play drums about it and you have to make imaginary enemies. “
Naseeruddin Shah pointed out that filmmakers who are making these jingoistic films do not realize “what they are doing is very harmful”. He added, “Actually, films like Kerala Story and Ghadar 2, I haven’t seen them but I know what they are. It is disturbing that films like The Kashmir File are so widely popular while films by Sudheer Mishra, Anubhav Sinha and Hansal Mehta, who are trying to portray the truth of their times, are not seen.”
However, Naseeruddin suggested that filmmakers like Anubhav Sinha, Hansal Mehta and Sudhir Mishra should not give up, even though their films are watched by a small number of people today.
