Anupam Kher reacts to Ratna Pathak Shah calling acting schools ‘shops’: ‘She and Naseeruddin Shah went to NSD, is that a shop?’
Anupam Kher reacts to Ratna Pathak Shah calling acting schools ‘shops’: ‘She and Naseeruddin Shah went to NSD, is that a shop?’
While it’s evident that veteran actors Ratna Pathak Shah and Naseeruddin Shah hold starkly different political opinions from Anupam Kher, their differing views extend beyond politics to various other subjects. In a recent conversation with Pinkvilla, Anupam, who runs an acting school, was asked about his reaction to Ratna Pathak Shah’s comment referring to acting schools as ‘shops.’
Though Anupam didn’t agree with her viewpoint, he emphasized that it was her opinion. He also pointed out that both Ratna and Naseer are from theatre training institute, National School Of Drama. He said, “That’s her point of view. I was also watching Naseer’s interview, he was also saying the same thing. Both of them are from National School Of Drama, will they call NSD a shop? So, sometimes a person says things out of bitterness or gets philosophical. It’s not important for me to justify what they think. They think it’s a shop and it is perfectly alright with me.”
The actor went on to narrate an incident where he witnessed a confident actor becoming nervous in front of the camera. This prompted him to take the initiative to open his own acting school and impart his skills to newcomers. Referring to Ratna’s comment, he said, “I thought I should open an acting school, where I would teach acting. People say that these are shops but I think they need to rethink about it because you are producing future generation of actors and it’s easy to make a statement like that. There are journalism schools, schools for dentists. Does Ratna goes to a dentist who didn’t go to a school? Why should they pass a judgment about somebody who runs an acting school with so much sincerity? But I am sure she isn’t talking about my school. Many people have opened these type of schools but those who run these schools know how much it is important to them.”
When asked if their difference of opinion had led to any bitterness in their relationship, he responded, “I look at the goodness in people. Even the worst person will have a good side. I remember when I bought my first car, I brought it to Mehboob Studio. Naseer was in his car. I can’t forget the warmth with which he greeted me. He said, ‘Wow! Anupam you have got the car finally.’ Doesn’t matter how many things he says about me but for me that is the gesture I will always think of.”
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