Naseeruddin Shah loses cool at a reporter over university disinvite question: 'Don't harass me'

Naseeruddin Shah

Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah was left livid after his invitation to a college event was withdrawn at the last moment. The actor claimed that the move was linked to his political views. While he had addressed the incident earlier, he was prodded about the same during his appearance at the airport, which left him irked. Netizens expressed disappointment over the way the actor was harassed.

Naseeruddin Shah loses cool at reporter

At the airport, a journalist questioned Naseeruddin about being disinvited from the university, and he replied, "I do not want to talk about this issue, so please do not harass me." Still, the questions persisted, and the actor lost his cool, saying, "What kind of people are you? Can't you see that I have just come in from a journey and I have said to you politely that I do not want to talk about this issue? Why are you persisting, why are you harassing me?"

Many users expressed anger over this incident. Actor Prakash Raj also reacted strongly, writing on his X account, "Have some shame. This is not confronting but arrogant behaviour while you are engaging with legends who have inspired generations. Disgusting."

Talking about the incident, the actor claimed he was disinvited from a Mumbai University event at the last minute, without explanation or apology. In his opinion piece for The Indian Express on Thursday, Naseeruddin called the experience both insulting and disappointing: "The university, after informing me that I needn't attend (on the night of January 31, and giving no reason, forget an apology), obviously considered this not insulting enough. So they decided to rub a little salt in by announcing to the audience that I had refused to be there," he wrote. The actor alleged the university later told the audience that he had refused to attend.

Naseeruddin Shah's upcoming movies

On the work front, the actor will next be seen in Anubhav Sinha's Assi, which stars Taapsee Pannu in the lead role. While his character details remain under wraps, his appearance is said to add drama and gravitas to the film. Apart from this, the actor will be seen as JRD Tata in the upcoming series Made in India: A Titan's Story. Directed by Robby Grewal, the series also stars Jim Sarbh as Xerxes Desai, the pioneering founder of Titan Watch Company.