Naseeruddin Shah on J.R.D. Tata: 'He carried his greatness quietly'
Synopsis
Naseeruddin Shah says what drew him to J.R.D. Tata wasn't the industrialist's towering stature — it was his restraint. In 'Made in India: A Titan Story', Shah delivers what viewers are calling one of his most quietly powerful performances, bringing India's most celebrated industrialist to life with the same understatement that defined the man himself.
Key Takeaways
Naseeruddin Shah plays J.R.D.
Tata in the streaming series 'Made in India: A Titan Story' , available on Amazon MX Player .
Shah described J.R.D.
Tata as someone who 'carried his greatness quietly, almost as a matter of habit.' The actor said the role came with 'a huge sense of responsibility' given the legacy J.R.D.
Shah praised co-star Jim Sarbh for his rare ability to 'listen genuinely, completely' on camera.
Shah credited Sarbh's theatre background for the 'rigour and intellectual seriousness' he brings to the series.
Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah, who portrays legendary industrialist J.R.D. Tata in the recently released streaming series 'Made in India: A Titan Story', has described the Tata Group patriarch as a man of extraordinary restraint — someone who wore his greatness as an unremarkable, everyday quality. The show is currently available on Amazon MX Player.
Shah on Playing J.R.D. Tata
Reflecting on the weight of the role, Naseeruddin Shah said: 'J.R.D. Tata was singular in a way that is difficult to articulate. What fascinated me most was not his stature but his restraint; he carried his greatness quietly, almost as a matter of habit.'
The actor acknowledged the gravity of embodying one of India's most revered industrialists. 'I have played many characters over the years, but portraying J.R.D. came with a huge sense of responsibility because of the legacy he represents. I am delighted that 'Made in India: A Titan Story' gave me the opportunity to explore him,' he said.
A Performance That Has Resonated
Shah's portrayal of J.R.D. Tata has emerged as one of the most celebrated aspects of the series, drawing praise for its quiet authority and emotional authenticity. Critics and viewers alike have noted that the performance adds considerable depth to the narrative, grounding the biographical drama in human complexity rather than hagiography.
Shah Praises Co-Star Jim Sarbh
The veteran actor also spoke warmly about working with Jim Sarbh, highlighting a quality he considers rare on screen. 'Jim has something that cannot be manufactured — he listens. Genuinely, completely. On camera, that is rarer than it sounds,' Shah said.
He further noted that Sarbh's theatre background lends him a rigour that serves the series well. 'His theatre foundation has given him a rigour and intellectual seriousness that translates beautifully on screen, and in a series as layered as 'Made in India: A Titan Story', that depth matters enormously. Working with him is, without hesitation, always a genuine pleasure,' Shah added.
About the Series
'Made in India: A Titan Story' chronicles the life and legacy of J.R.D. Tata, India's pioneering industrialist and the first Indian to hold a commercial pilot's licence. The series, streaming on Amazon MX Player, arrives at a moment of renewed public interest in India's industrial history and the figures who shaped it. For Naseeruddin Shah — one of Hindi cinema's most respected character actors — the role represents a significant addition to a career defined by transformative performances.
Point of View
Which suggests a performance built on subtext rather than spectacle. In an era of loud biographical dramas that flatten their subjects into monuments, that approach is both rarer and more honest. The praise for Jim Sarbh also signals that 'Made in India: A Titan Story' may be doing something the genre rarely manages — ensemble depth, not just a star turn.
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who does Naseeruddin Shah play in 'Made in India: A Titan Story'?
Naseeruddin Shah plays J.R.D. Tata, India's pioneering industrialist, in the streaming series 'Made in India: A Titan Story'. The show is available on Amazon MX Player.
What did Naseeruddin Shah say about portraying J.R.D. Tata?
Shah said J.R.D. Tata was 'singular in a way that is difficult to articulate' and that what fascinated him most was Tata's restraint — the way he 'carried his greatness quietly, almost as a matter of habit'. He also described the role as coming with 'a huge sense of responsibility'.
What did Naseeruddin Shah say about co-star Jim Sarbh?
Shah praised Jim Sarbh for his ability to listen genuinely on camera, calling it 'rarer than it sounds'. He credited Sarbh's theatre background for giving him 'rigour and intellectual seriousness' that translates well on screen.
Where can viewers watch 'Made in India: A Titan Story'?
'Made in India: A Titan Story' is available to stream on Amazon MX Player.
Why is Naseeruddin Shah's performance in the series being celebrated?
Viewers and critics have praised Shah's portrayal of J.R.D. Tata for its quiet authority, restraint, and emotional authenticity, noting that it adds depth and credibility to the biographical drama.
