Ashoke Pandit tells Naseeruddin Shah to seek medical help over 'Dimagi Naxal' remark
Synopsis
Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit has escalated a celebrity political war of words by publicly urging veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah to 'seek medical help' and 'stop substance use' — blunt language that reflects the widening ideological rift inside Bollywood. Shah's 'Dimagi Naxal' badge video was the trigger, but the exchange has quickly expanded into a proxy battle over films, democracy, and who speaks for India.
Key Takeaways
Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit publicly called on Naseeruddin Shah to seek medical help on 29 October 2026 .
The spat was triggered by Shah's viral video in which he wore a badge reading 'Dimagi Naxal' and criticised the government over student protests.
Pandit alleged Shah had 'abused' actors including Anupam Kher , Shah Rukh Khan , Amitabh Bachchan , and filmmaker Subhash Ghai .
Pandit cited the commercial success of films including The Kerala Story , The Kashmir Files , and Dhurandar as the root of what he called Shah's 'insecurity'.
Shah's video had also referenced protests at Jawaharlal Nehru University and Jamia Millia Islamia , drawing a broader political debate.
As of this report, Naseeruddin Shah had not publicly responded to Pandit's remarks.
Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit on 29 October 2026 launched a sharp verbal offensive against veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah, alleging that Shah's recent conduct has gone 'berserk' and that he needs professional medical attention. The remarks came in direct response to a video in which Shah wore a badge reading 'Dimagi Naxal' and criticised the government over its handling of student protests.
What Triggered the Clash
In the viral video, Naseeruddin Shah donned the self-described 'Dimagi Naxal' badge while referencing labels such as 'anti-national' and 'tukde-tukde gang', questioning the treatment of students and the state of democracy. He drew parallels with earlier protests at Jawaharlal Nehru University and cited ongoing demonstrations at Jamia Millia Islamia. The video reignited a political debate, drawing reactions from multiple public figures.
Pandit's Remarks in Full
Reacting strongly, Ashoke Pandit said, 'I am not surprised and I am not shocked because since last year or so, Naseeruddin Shah has become a constant abuser. He has lost all manners, he has lost etiquettes, he behaves like a, you know, a ruffian.' Pandit alleged that Shah's 'entire language... sounds of frustration' and 'loss of balance of mind.'
Pandit went further, stating, 'I am very sure that this man needs medical help. He is not normal because the way he talks, the way he expresses his face is full of anger.' He also claimed that Shah belongs to a 'tukde-tukde gang' and an 'urban naxal gang', saying, 'without any reason you have been abusing people left, right and centre.'
Pandit listed individuals he alleged Shah had publicly attacked, including actors Anupam Kher, Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, and filmmaker Subhash Ghai. He added, 'So, for you, I think that you believe that you are perfect. So, that's why this also is a psychological problem. You please get yourself checked.'
Films and the Insecurity Argument
Pandit attributed what he described as Shah's frustration to the commercial success of films he said certain sections of the industry disliked, specifically naming The Kerala Story, The Kashmir Files, and Dhurandar. 'They are troubled with films like Kerala Story working... So, they have become insecure,' he said, arguing that a broader shift in public taste had unsettled a generation of 'art cinema' figures.
Bengal Elections and the Hindu Migration Argument
Pandit also addressed Naseeruddin Shah's reported concern over the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) winning Bengal elections, asking why the actor had not spoken about what Pandit described as 'the genocide of Hindus in Bengal' or the migration of lakhs of Hindus to Assam. He characterised the Mamata Banerjee government as 'anti-Hindu' and 'anti-India', claiming voters 'threw them out' for that reason — assertions that critics of the BJP and independent observers would sharply contest.
Pandit closed with a pointed advisory: 'If any substance you are using, please stop that and you will be fine.' As of this report, Naseeruddin Shah had not publicly responded to Pandit's remarks. The exchange reflects a deepening fault line in Bollywood between voices critical of the government and those aligned with the ruling establishment.
Point of View
And it risks drawing sympathy toward Shah from audiences who might otherwise have tuned out the original video. Pandit's conflation of box-office performance with ideological loyalty is also telling; it suggests the culture-war framing has now fully absorbed commercial cinema as a proxy battleground. The exchange ultimately says more about the ambient political temperature in India's entertainment industry than about either man involved.
NationPress
29 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Naseeruddin Shah say in his 'Dimagi Naxal' video?
Naseeruddin Shah wore a badge reading 'Dimagi Naxal' and criticised the government over its handling of student protests, questioning the treatment of students and the state of democracy. He referenced protests at Jawaharlal Nehru University and Jamia Millia Islamia, and challenged labels like 'anti-national' and 'tukde-tukde gang'.
Why did Ashoke Pandit say Naseeruddin Shah needs medical help?
Ashoke Pandit alleged that Shah's public conduct and language had become erratic, saying his expressions showed 'full anger' and 'loss of balance of mind'. Pandit framed this as a medical concern, though critics would note such characterisations are a common rhetorical device used to dismiss political dissent.
Which films did Ashoke Pandit reference in his remarks?
Pandit cited The Kerala Story, The Kashmir Files, and Dhurandar as examples of commercially successful films he claimed certain industry figures were 'troubled' by. He argued their success reflected a broader shift in public taste and triggered 'insecurity' among those aligned with art-house or critical cinema.
Has Naseeruddin Shah responded to Ashoke Pandit's remarks?
As of 29 October 2026, Naseeruddin Shah had not publicly responded to Pandit's remarks. The veteran actor's original 'Dimagi Naxal' video remained the primary point of contention.
What is the broader context of this Bollywood political row?
The exchange is part of an ongoing and increasingly public ideological divide within Bollywood, with some figures openly critical of the government and others strongly supportive. Shah's remarks and Pandit's response reflect a pattern of celebrity political disputes that have intensified since the mid-2010s.
