Actor · Hindi Cinema

Naseeruddin Shah

Retro1975–present

Naseeruddin Shah is an Indian actor widely regarded as one of the finest performers in Hindi cinema and a leading figure of the parallel (New Indian) cinema movement of the 1970s and 1980s. Trained at the Film and Television Institute of India and the National School of Drama, he made his film debut in Shyam Benegal's Nishant (1975) and built his reputation in art-house films before moving into mainstream and international productions. He is known for versatile, understated performances in works ranging from Sparsh and Masoom to the cult comedy Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro and the thriller A Wednesday. He is also a prominent stage actor and a co-founder of the theatre group Motley.

Honours: National Film Awards (Best Actor for Sparsh and Paar; Best Supporting Actor for Iqbal), the Padma Shri (1987) and Padma Bhushan (2003), multiple Filmfare Awards including Best Actor wins for Aakrosh, Chakra and Masoom, and the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the 1984 Venice Film Festival for Paar

Filmography

45 films · compiled from Wikidata

Recent & Ongoing

2026

Rogan Josh

2017

Did You Know?

He trained at both the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) and the National School of Drama (NSD), becoming a defining face of India's parallel cinema.
He won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the 1984 Venice Film Festival for Paar, the first Indian actor to receive the honour.
In 1977 he co-founded the theatre group Motley Productions, whose inaugural staging was Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot.
He crossed over to Hollywood as Captain Nemo in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003) and is married to actress Ratna Pathak Shah.
The song “Mere Sapno Ki Rani” from Aradhana was famously picturised on a moving toy train in Darjeeling.
Yash Raj Films, founded by Yash Chopra in 1970, grew into one of India’s largest film studios and home of the “Spy Universe.”
The three “Khans” of Bollywood — Shah Rukh, Salman and Aamir — were all born in 1965.

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Filmography

Recent & Ongoing

Rehmat

Kuttey

Gehraiyaan

Maarrich

The Holy conspiracy

Mee Raqsam

The Tashkent Files

Rogan Josh

Begum Jaan

Irada

Dhh

The Blueberry Hunt

Teraa Surroor

Jeewan Hathi

Dharam Sankat Mein

Charlie Kay Chakkar Mein

Waiting

2000s

Dedh Ishqiya

Finding Fanny

Sona Spa

Sunglass

Zinda Bhaag

John Day

Jackpot

Khasi Katha– A Goat Saga

Celluloid Man

Chaalis Chauraasi

Maximum

7 Khoon Maaf

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara

The Dirty Picture

Charge Sheet

Michael

That Girl in Yellow Boots

Raajneeti

Peepli Live

Ishqiya

Allah Ke Banday

Today's Special

Barah Aana

Bolo Raam

Firaaq

A Wednesday!

Maharathi

Shoot on Sight

Did You Know?