Naseeruddin Shah is a popular Indian actor. He was born on 20 July 1949 in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh. His zodiac sign is Leo. He attended St Anselm’s School, Ajmer, Rajasthan, and St Joseph’s College, Nainital. He earned his degrees from Aligarh Muslim University, Uttar Pradesh, and National School of Drama, New Delhi. 

His father’s name was Ali Mohammad Shah, and his mother’s name was Farukh Sultan. 

He is married to Ratna Pathak Shah. They are parents to three children Heeba Shah, Imaad Shah, and Vivaan Shah. 

Naseeruddin Shah’s favourites

His hobbies include playing tennis and reading books. 

He admires the works by film directors are Neeraj Pandey, Rajkumar Hirani, and Neeraj Ghevan. 

His favourite actors are Mohanlal, Nedumudi Venu, Shammi Kapoor, Dara Singh, and Boman Irani. 

His favourite films are Masaan (2015) and Dil Chahta Hai (2001). 

His favourite colour is black. 

His favourite travelling destination is Dubai. 

Interesting facts about Naseeruddin Shah 

Naseeruddin Shah was born and brought up in a Nawab family in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh. 

Since childhood, Naseeruddin Shah had a keen interest in acting and performing. At 14, he participated in a school play of Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice. 

Naseeruddin Shah’s film debut

Shah started his career as a theatre artist. 

In the year 1975, he made his acting debut with the Bollywood film ‘Nishant.’ The film was honoured with the National Film Award for Best Film. The film was also an official entry to the Academy Awards for the category Best Foreign Language Film.  

Naseeruddin Shah’s marriage

Naseeruddin Shah’s first wife Parveen Murad was 16 years older than him. The couple separated after two years of marriage. 

He met Ratna Pathak, the daughter of actress Dina Pathak, during the 1970s. They worked together in films like ‘Mirch Masala’ and ‘The Perfect Murder.’ Naseeruddin Shah divorced his first wife and got married with Ratna Pathak in the year 1982. 

Naseeruddin Shah’s love for theatre

Even after gaining recognition in Bollywood, Naseeruddin Shah continued performing in theatre plays.

In the year 1977, he founded a theatre group called ‘Motley Productions’ in collaboration with his friends.  

The role of Mahatma Gandhi was first offered to Naseeruddin Shah in the 1982 film ‘Gandhi.’ However, Ben Kingsley landed the final project. 

Naseeruddin Shah’s awards

In the year 1987, he was honoured with the Padma Shri award for his contribution to Indian cinema. 

The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Bhushan Award in 2003. 

Naseeruddin Shah’s international projects

He has worked in several international projects including the Hollywood film ‘The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.’ 

Naseeruddin’s Pakistani film ‘Zinda Bhag’ was nominated as the country’s official entry to the 86th Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film Category. 

He enjoys a lifetime membership of the International Film and Television Club of the Asian Academy of Film and Television. 

Shah’s brother Lieutenant General Zamirud-Din Shah was appointed as the Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Uttar Pradesh, in the year 2016. 

Naseeruddin Shah’s memoir

In 2014, Naseeruddin Shah published his memoir titled ‘And Then One Day,’ in which he discussed about his dependency on consuming marijuana for clarity of thoughts. The book was published by Hamish Hamilton. 

In March 2022, during a conversation with a YouTube channel Chalchitra, he revealed that he was once a patient of a disorder called onomatomania. Under this condition, a patient develops a habit of repeating certain words and phrases in their conversations. 

Naseeruddin Shah’s filmography

Naseeruddin Shah’s popular films are Vishwatma (1992), Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983), Tridev (1989), Naajayaz (1995), Mohra (1994), Sarfarosh (1999), Maalamaal (1988), Monsoon Wedding (2001), Woh 7 Din (1983), Main Hoon Na (2004), China Gate (1998), Karma (1986), Maqbool (2003), Sparsh (1980), Iqbal (2005), Masoom (1983), The Dirty Picture (2011), A Wednesday (2008), Ishqiya (2010), Dedh Ishqiya (2014), Kuttey (2023), and many more.