Bollywood titans Naseer and Anupam Kher spew vitriol on each other

NEW DELHI: In another time, actors Naseeruddin Shah and Anupam Kher had clashed for celluloid honours as firm friends of diametrically different dispositions in director Vijaya Mehta’s bittersweet tale of love and longing, Pestonjee. On Wednesday, the two actors spewed vitriol on each other.

Responding to a question on those in the Mumbai film industry who support the government’s "discriminatory" policies, Shah named Kher. “Someone like Anupam Kher has been very vocal. I don’t think he needs to be taken seriously. He is a clown. Any number of his contemporaries from NSD and FTII can attest to his sycophantic nature. It is in his blood. He can’t help it,” Shah said in an interview to The Wire.

Kher responded with a 1.28-minute video in Hinglish which he posted on his verified Twitter handle. Kher said he too doesn’t take Shah or his words seriously. Addressing Shah directly, he further said, “Despite achieving so much success, you have spent your entire life in frustration. If you can criticise Dilip Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna, Shah Rukh Khan and Virat Kohli, then I am sure I am in great company.”


Kher alleged, “None of them took your statements seriously because we all know that due to the substances you have been consuming for years, you cannot differentiate between right and wrong.”

“If you can hit the headlines for a few days by abusing me, I gift this happiness to you. May God give you happiness. Your well-wisher Anupam. And you know what’s in my blood: Hindustan. Just understand that. Jai Ho!,” Kher concluded.