Actor Puneet Issar on 29 October 2026 publicly criticised veteran star Naseeruddin Shah over his anti-government remarks, accusing him of practising selective criticism and questioning why the senior actor stays silent on issues that Issar argues concern national interest. The remarks come a day after Naseeruddin Shah shared a video on Facebook in which he reportedly embraced the label 'Dimagi Naxal' — a term coined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day address — and drew parallels between ongoing protests and earlier demonstrations at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).

What Puneet Issar Said

Acknowledging Naseeruddin Shah's stature, Issar opened with a note of respect before sharpening his criticism. 'First of all, Mr. Naseeruddin Shah is our senior; he has been our teacher, he is respected, he is a very good artist. But I just want to say that when you talk, you should not talk selectively,' he said. He accused the veteran actor of responding to public affairs exclusively through what he characterised as a 'leftist ideology' while staying silent when, in his view, voices he considers anti-national are involved.

Issar alleged that Naseeruddin Shah does not speak out against groups he labelled the 'Tukde-Tukde Gang' or individuals he described as those who 'want to divide the country.' He questioned: 'If you support those people, then what happened to your being an Indian?'

The Democratic Counter-Argument

Issar stopped short of calling for silence, instead urging Naseeruddin Shah to channel his political convictions through electoral politics. 'You have every right to have your own opinion, you have the right to speak against the government. But you don't like the government that has come — you get down to the ground, you fight the elections, you win, you defeat the government. This government was not made on a whim; people have chosen this government,' he said.

He reiterated the point: 'Fight the elections, bring your ideologies to the forefront. After winning, change the government. Who has stopped you?' The statement reflects a recurring line of argument from right-leaning commentators who contend that celebrity dissent should translate into formal political participation rather than public statements.

Naseeruddin Shah's 'Dimagi Naxal' Remark

The immediate trigger for Issar's criticism was a Facebook video shared by Naseeruddin Shah on Wednesday, in which the actor reportedly flaunted a badge reading 'Dimagi Naxal'. The term was reportedly coined by Prime Minister Modi in his Independence Day speech after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned under public pressure. In the video, Naseeruddin Shah also drew comparisons between ongoing protests and earlier agitations at JNU, referencing labels such as 'anti-national' and 'tukde-tukde gang' — terms critics of the government argue have been weaponised to suppress dissent, while supporters contend reflect genuine concerns about national unity.

Broader Context

The public exchange is the latest episode in a long-running tension between Bollywood's politically vocal artists and commentators aligned with the current dispensation. Naseeruddin Shah has been one of the more persistent voices from the film fraternity to publicly question government policies; critics argue such statements amount to selective outrage, while defenders of free expression maintain that artists need not adopt a 'balance sheet' approach to public commentary. Notably, the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan that Naseeruddin Shah referenced adds a fresh political dimension to what might otherwise have been a routine celebrity spat.

As the debate intensifies, the episode raises wider questions about the boundaries of dissent, the role of public figures in political discourse, and whether the demand for 'balanced criticism' is itself a form of pressure on free speech.