Farhan Akhtar says shooting with Naseeruddin Shah in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara brought back memories of his childhood with Javed Akhtar, ‘It all came very naturally’

Farhan Akhtar and Naseeruddin Shah may have shared only a single scene in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, but the moment remains one of the film’s most emotionally charged. Now, Farhan has opened up about filming the pivotal father–son confrontation, describing how the experience unexpectedly echoed his own childhood and his relationship with Javed Akhtar after his parents’ separation.

In an interview with Galatta Plus, Farhan recalled how naturally the moment flowed while shooting opposite Naseeruddin. “I didn’t have that many lines. The lines belonged to Naseer Sahab and he is incredible. So I had to just sit and listen to him. It was easy to react, it was easy to respond,” he said.

The real challenge, he added, was maintaining authenticity through multiple takes. “That scene cannot be a performance. It had to feel like the boy is hearing it for the first time, and the more we had to do it... somehow, the actor bone kicks in and the performance bit comes into it.”


Farhan also revealed that he and Naseeruddin Shah did not rehearse the scene at all. “The first couple of times, it felt more natural because he was speaking to me for the first time, and we didn’t rehearse at all,” he shared.

‘It transported me back to my childhood’

The emotional weight of the scene, Farhan said, tapped into unresolved feelings from his own past. “In some way, it transported me back to my childhood, to the questions that I had with my father when I was younger, not knowing what had happened and why my parents were not together,” he reflected.

He said the emotions surfaced instinctively. “I remember feeling very emotional when that scene was shot and not having to pretend to be emotional at all. It all came very naturally.”

Responding to Naseeruddin Shah’s criticism

The actor–filmmaker was also asked about his recent response to Naseeruddin Shah’s old remark on Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, in which Naseer had described Farhan’s performance as “completely fake.”

“It didn’t feel good when I read it, but you have to take it in your stride,” Farhan said. “It is his opinion. In those moments, I can sit and focus on bringing myself down or live with the fact that this is how one person, who I respect and admire as an actor, feels and focus on people who are appreciating what I am doing.”

When asked if he ever approached Naseer for advice after the criticism, Farhan replied, “No, and I’ll tell you why. I have been doing films for 25 years. There are certain actors, directors and writers that I have known who have debuted maybe 10 years after me. If there is something in their work that I feel could be better, genuinely, I would pick up the phone and call them or I would say that I would like to meet you.”



He added that constructive feedback must come from a place of care. “It has to be done with a certain degree of love and respect and empathy, and I felt that it didn’t come from that place for him. It just felt like it was a statement thrown out publicly, and I felt that then this person doesn’t respect me, so why should I reach out to a person who doesn’t respect me?”

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