“There’s No Worse Torture”: Naseeruddin Shah Shares How Working Nonstop Left Him Exhausted
Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah is known for speaking honestly, and he recently talked about a tough time in his career. He shared how working nonstop, doing up to three film shoots in a day, left him physically and mentally drained. He admitted that during this phase, he was taking on films just for the money—but now, he sees that decision differently.
“There’s no worse torture in the world than shooting for three films in one day,” he said in a heartfelt reflection. “I was doing some great movies, but only for the money. And then I realized—no amount of money is worth the pain and stress it brought me.”
Shah said that much of the time on film sets didn’t even involve acting. There were long hours spent eating breakfast, chatting, and doing nothing meaningful before actually starting the work. This made the experience even more tiring and frustrating for him.
His wife, actor Ratna Pathak Shah, also shared her thoughts in a YouTube podcast by Aadyam Theater. She said she never worked such long hours like her husband and always chose to do fewer projects. According to her, doing less work helped her stay true to her passion for acting. Even though not all of her projects were big hits, she said she gave her 100% to every role because that’s the only way it felt right to her.
Ratna added that because she took on so few roles, she couldn’t afford to cut corners. She believed that actors doing multiple shifts a day might rush through their parts, but she didn’t want to do that—especially when a good role came her way after years of waiting.
At the FICCI Flo Hyderabad summit, Ratna also spoke about her marriage. She said that during the early years, Naseeruddin’s deep focus on his career made her feel like she was being left behind. But over time, she came to understand and respect his dedication. She described him as generous—not just as an actor, but also as a director who helped others bring out their best performances.
Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah have been married since 1982 and still work together in theatre. While their styles are different, they share a deep love for the stage.
Over the years, Naseeruddin Shah has given some unforgettable performances in Indian cinema. From Masoom (1983), where he played a father facing guilt, to Sparsh (1980), where he portrayed a blind principal, his roles have always stood out. He impressed audiences in A Wednesday! (2008) as a mysterious common man, and delivered powerful performances in films like Nishant (1975), Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983), Iqbal (2005), Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyun Aata Hai (1980), and Pestonjee (1988).
He remains one of the most respected and versatile actors in Indian cinema.
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