Actor · Hindi Cinema

Naseeruddin Shah

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