When Naseerudin Shah said he never faced discrimination

Story by ATV | Posted by Aasha Khosa | Date 06-02-2026

Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah

New Delhi

In an interview with Awaz-The Voice veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah, which is currently going viral on social media, the actor states that neither he, his brothers, nor his father ever faced any problems in their professional lives because of being Muslim.

During the interview, he recalled his student days at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), mentioning that three generations of his family had studied there. He spoke about the educational and social conditions of that time, specifically mentioning his teachers. Naseeruddin Shah said that one of his teachers, Zahida Zaidi, always encouraged him and advised him to trust in his abilities, assuring him that he would never face any difficulties. According to him, this advice stayed with him throughout his life.

In a conversation with Manjeet Thakur, AV editor of Awaaz The Voice, Naseeruddin Shah also shared his views on the discussions surrounding discrimination against Muslims in the country. He said that he had never experienced "isolation" or being singled out in his life, nor had he ever associated his work with his identity as a Muslim. He stated that his religion had never been an obstacle in his career in this country.

He gave examples, mentioning that his father was in government service and did not face any disadvantages because of being Muslim. His two brothers also excelled in their respective fields, one of whom served in the army his entire life and participated in two wars, but even there, religion never became a hindrance.

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He said that tolerance is in our DNA. We didn't just sing songs about Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs for show. It wasn't a pretense. This phase of hatred will also pass. The complete and thought-provoking interview with Naseeruddin Shah is available on the Awaaz The Voice YouTube channel, where he offers a balanced and confident perspective on society and the system through his personal experiences