Actor Naseeruddin Shah’s old video criticising Anupam Kher has resurfaced online amid Kher’s remarks on the theft of donations at the Ayodhya Ram Temple, sparking debate. A 2020 clip from Shah’s interview is being widely circulated online, with the veteran actor calling Kher a ‘clown’ while commenting about his political outlook.
An old video began trending after Kher called the reported theft at the Ram Temple a “very small issue” and compared it with the massive-scale attacks and looting of temples during the Mughal era. After his remarks went viral, Shah’s earlier comments about the actor grabbed social media users’ attention.
Why did Naseeruddin Shah call Anupam Kher a ‘clown’?
During the 2020 interview, Shah was questioned about the members of the film fraternity who had slammed what they perceived as discriminatory politics and policies and those who had openly come out in support of the government. Responding to it, he said, “There are fewer than those who oppose it.”
Shedding light on Kher, he added, “Someone like Anupam Kher is very vocal. I don’t think he needs to be taken seriously. He is a clown. Any number of his contemporaries from NSD and FTII can attest to his sycophantic nature. It’s in his blood. He can’t help it.”
How did Anupam Kher respond to Naseeruddin Shah’s comments?
In a video message on X, Kher responded to Shah’s remarks, accusing the actor of frequently criticising others from the film fraternity. Kher said, “Though I have never said anything bad about you, now I will. You have spent your entire life in frustration, despite achieving so much. If you can criticise Dilip Kumar sahab, Amitabh Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna, Shah Rukh Khan and Virat Kohli, then I’m sure I’m in great company.”
Kher further added, “None of them has ever taken your statements seriously, as we all know that due to the substances you have been taking all these years, you don’t realise the difference between what is right and what is wrong.”
What Anupam Kher said about the Ram Mandir donation theft?
The controversy resurfaced after Kher was questioned about the theft of donations at the Ayodhya Ram Temple. Sharing his perspective in a conversation with India Today, the actor called the incident ‘small’ when viewed in comparison to the historical destruction and looting of temples.
He said, “Temples were looted when the Mughals destroyed our temples. When Brahmins were killed, when the wealth of our temples was plundered, when women were raped in the temple premises. That was a far greater tragedy. If we could overcome that pain, then this is a very, very small matter.”
The actor added, “People are making a huge issue out of this. They are saying there has been looting in the temple… such words are being used. Temples were looted when the Mughals destroyed our temples. Temples were looted when Mughal rulers killed Brahmins and collected and weighed their sacred threads. Temples were looted when Mughal emperors came here and took away valuables from every temple. Temples were looted when women were raped within temple premises. That was a far greater tragedy. If we could overcome that, then this issue of theft is a very small matter.”
Anupam Kher on the film front
On the work front, Anupam Kher will be next seen in Kamakhya Narayan Singh’s Shri Ram Bhoomi, co-starring Ritwik Bhowmik and Amruta Khanvilkar. He also has Khosla Ka Khosla 2 in his pipeline.