Jinnah started of well as a Well Educated, WOG Westernized Oriental Gentleman who wanted to lead the Congress and become India's first PM.
Along came Gandhi and his acolytes Nehru and Patel and upset all his plans by taking the freedom struggle directly to the masses.
Seeing his preeminent position usurped by a leader who had gone "native" in his own words,
Jinnah seethed with rage inside.
His chance came in the late 1930s and early 1940s when the Congress abdicated its leadership during the Quit India movement while the Second World War was raging.
Jinnah used this interlude to get on good terms with arch India-hater Churchill and fulfill his recruitment quotas with a steady supply of Punjabi Mussallas to the Indian army.
After the end of the war, Jinnah extracted his pound of flesh in the form of Pakistan, from the body of India.
No amount of reasoning would convince this mule-headed and sadistic man that religion cannot be the basis for Nationality.
Naseeruddin Shah nursed a huge grouse against Sir Richard Attenborough for not picking him for the lead role even though he was called for an audition.
Naseeruddin Shah went to that extent of accusing Attenborough of a racial bias for picking a white man.
Naseer said all this audition stuff is an eyewash when he came to know that he is not selected but Ben Kingsley.
When I met Sir Richard much later in Cannes, I asked him this question of Naseeruddin Shah.
Sir Richard replied, I can understand Naseer's feelings; to be honest quite a few things went against him and the prime reason, if am compelled to choose one, is that intensity in his eyes; this intensity is caused by constricting pupils which happens over a very long period of time and is a function of so many factors including the personality of that person. I can't change that piercing eyes; Gandhi is a noble and peaceful character and not an intense one; hence the actor playing this character must have dilated pupils as much as possible. Naseer never understood that. It is not about the shape of your face, height, built; almost always it is about eyes and audience connect with those stares. Naseer built his character on the lines of Al Pacino projecting intensity in every role that he does; it may have won accolades elsewhere but here that factor goes against him. Now you accuse me of racial bias; Gawd help me!
Re: NASEERUDIN SHAH
by Vishnu Sharma on Aug 25, 2014 10:31 PM
Ben Kingsley is not white, He is an Anglo-Indian born to an English woman and an Indian father.
Re: NASEERUDIN SHAH
by palanki narayana on Aug 25, 2014 12:03 PM
Ben Kinglsey (Krishna Benji) was partly of Indian descent. After "Gandhi" he did not get any significant roles and had to be content with playing characters either sinister or pathetic.
Re: Re: NASEERUDIN SHAH
by Kabeer on Aug 25, 2014 12:17 PM
I am a freelance writer and write for a few magazines and papers.
Am aware of the gap between Sir Richard and me, but in spite of that gap, it is my vocation that bridges that gap, a privilege enjoyed my fraternity in this profession.
