Om Puri on Naseeruddin Shah: How Bollywood nepotism sidelined a global talent
Synopsis
In a resurfaced video, the late Om Puri delivered one of Bollywood's most candid insider indictments — praising Naseeruddin Shah's global stature while bluntly noting that the industry handed good roles to relatives and reduced its finest actors to knife-wielding goons. Decades on, the clip still stings.
Key Takeaways
A resurfaced video shows Om Puri candidly praising Naseeruddin Shah's international recognition, citing appreciation for Monsoon Wedding among British film professionals.
Puri noted Shah had worked in more than 150 films over 25 years , yet was routinely denied top-tier roles by a nepotism-driven industry.
Puri specifically cited 'Sparsh' , 'Manthan' , 'Akrosh' , and 'Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron' as the films that affirmed Shah's place among international actors.
Both actors trained at the National School of Drama and were central to India's parallel cinema movement .
The video has resurfaced amid an ongoing national debate about nepotism in Bollywood that has intensified since 2020 .
A resurfaced video of the late actor Om Puri speaking candidly about his close friend and fellow veteran Naseeruddin Shah has reignited conversation about nepotism in Bollywood and the systemic underutilisation of India's most gifted performers. In the clip, Puri delivers a frank, affectionate assessment of Shah's stature — one that cuts to the heart of how the Hindi film industry has historically treated its finest actors.
What Om Puri Said
In the video, Om Puri addresses Naseeruddin Shah directly, acknowledging his international standing at a time when domestic recognition lagged far behind. 'Maybe you don't know it very well. You are a very good actor. Not only in India, but you are popular abroad as well. And it is appreciated. Right now, your film Monsoon Wedding is being discussed. Many British people from our film unit have seen this film and praised you a lot,' Puri is heard saying.
Puri then raised what he called a 'serious question,' noting that Shah had worked in more than 150 films over 25 years — a body of work that, he said, would leave British audiences 'faint' with admiration. Yet the industry's internal mechanics told a different story.
The Nepotism Charge
'Our own film industry is very notorious. They will keep giving you money. But they will distribute good roles among their relatives. And they will make you a goon by holding a knife in their hands,' Puri said, in a pointed critique of how mainstream Bollywood allocated its choicest parts. His words — delivered with characteristic bluntness — remain as resonant today as when they were first spoken.
To counter that disappointment, Puri urged Shah to recall the films that defined his legacy: 'Sparsh', 'Manthan', 'Akrosh', and 'Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron'. 'Only then you will be able to stand among the international actors,' he said.
A Friendship Forged in Theatre
The bond between Om Puri and Naseeruddin Shah was among the most celebrated in Indian cinema. Both emerged from the world of theatre and trained at the National School of Drama, becoming central figures of India's parallel cinema movement in the 1970s and 1980s. Their friendship was grounded in shared artistic values, mutual respect, and the quiet solidarity of two outsiders navigating an industry built on dynasties.
This is the context that gives Puri's remarks their weight — not jealousy or bitterness, but the measured observation of a peer who watched a once-in-a-generation talent be routinely handed lesser material while marquee roles went to those with the right surnames.
Why the Video Resonates Now
The clip's resurgence comes amid an ongoing national debate about nepotism in the Hindi film industry — a conversation that intensified following the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput in 2020 and has never fully subsided. Puri's words, spoken years earlier, serve as a historical timestamp: the problem is neither new nor unacknowledged. Notably, Naseeruddin Shah himself has spoken publicly on multiple occasions about feeling marginalised by mainstream Bollywood despite his critical acclaim and international profile. The video adds Om Puri's voice to that record — and, given Puri's own stature, it carries considerable authority.
As the debate over meritocracy versus industry privilege continues, this archival footage stands as one of the most candid insider testimonies on record.
Point of View
But roles flow to relatives. That distinction matters. Naseeruddin Shah's career is proof that critical acclaim and commercial utility can coexist without ever translating into the industry's highest trust. The video's renewed circulation is less a nostalgia moment and more an accountability document — a named insider, on camera, describing a structural problem that the industry has spent decades deflecting. The fact that it still needs to be rediscovered, rather than being part of any official reckoning, says something about how little has changed.
NationPress
1 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Om Puri say about Naseeruddin Shah and Bollywood nepotism?
In a resurfaced video, Om Puri praised Naseeruddin Shah's global recognition — including appreciation for Monsoon Wedding among British film professionals — while sharply criticising Bollywood for distributing good roles among industry relatives and relegating talented actors to minor, typecast parts. Puri called this practice 'very notorious.'
Which films did Om Puri cite as proof of Naseeruddin Shah's talent?
Om Puri specifically named 'Sparsh', 'Manthan', 'Akrosh', and 'Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron' as the films Shah should recall to reaffirm his standing among international actors. These titles are landmarks of India's parallel cinema movement from the late 1970s and 1980s.
What was the friendship between Om Puri and Naseeruddin Shah based on?
Both actors trained at the National School of Drama and came from a theatre background, becoming key figures of India's parallel cinema movement. Their friendship was built on shared artistic values, mutual respect, and the experience of navigating a mainstream industry as outsiders.
Why has this Om Puri video resurfaced now?
The clip has regained attention amid an ongoing debate about nepotism in Bollywood that has persisted since 2020. Puri's candid, on-camera remarks serve as a historical record of the problem being acknowledged from within the industry itself.
How many films had Naseeruddin Shah worked in when Om Puri made these remarks?
Om Puri stated that Naseeruddin Shah had worked in more than 150 films over 25 years at the time the video was recorded — a body of work Puri said would astonish international audiences, yet one that had not translated into consistently strong roles within mainstream Bollywood.
