Actor Naseeruddin Shah‘s old criticism of Anupam Kher has resurfaced online after Kher’s recent comments on the reported theft of donations at the Ayodhya Ram Temple sparked debate. A clip from Shah’s 2020 interview is once again being widely shared, with the veteran actor calling Kher a “clown” while speaking about his political views.The years-old video began trending after Kher, in an interview with India Today, dismissed the reported theft at the Ram Temple as a “very small issue” and compared it with the large-scale destruction and looting of temples during the Mughal era. As his remarks drew attention, social media users revived Shah’s earlier comments about the actor.During the 2020 interview, Shah was asked about members of the film industry who had either criticised what they viewed as discriminatory politics and policies or openly supported the government. Responding to the question, he said, “There are fewer than those who oppose it.”Speaking about Kher, Shah added, “Someone like Anupam Kher is 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’s in his blood. He can’t help it.”Kher had responded to Shah’s remarks at the time by sharing a video message on X, accusing the veteran actor of frequently targeting people from the film industry.“Though I have never said anything bad about you but now I will. You have spent your entire life in frustration, despite achieving so much. If you can criticise Dilip Kumar sahab, Amitabh Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna, Shah Rukh Khan and Virat Kohli, then I’m sure I’m in great company,” Kher had said.He further added, “None of them has ever taken your statements seriously, as we all know that due to the substances you have been taking all these years, you don’t realise the difference between what is right and what is wrong.” The controversy resurfaced after Kher was asked by India Today about the reported theft of donations at the Ayodhya Ram Temple. The actor argued that the incident should be viewed in the context of the historical destruction and plundering of temples.He said, “Temples were looted when the Mughals destroyed our temples. When Brahmins were killed, when the wealth of our temples was plundered, when women were raped in the temple premises. That was a far greater tragedy. If we could overcome that pain, then this is a very, very small matter.”Expanding on his remarks, Kher added, “People are making a huge issue out of this. They are saying there has been looting in the temple… such words are being used. Temples were looted when the Mughals destroyed our temples. Temples were looted when Mughal rulers killed Brahmins and collected and weighed their sacred threads. Temples were looted when Mughal emperors came here and took away valuables from every temple. Temples were looted when women were raped within temple premises. That was a far greater tragedy. If we could overcome that, then this issue of theft is a very small matter.”On the work front, Kher will next be seen in ‘Shri Ram Bhoomi’, directed by Kamakhya Narayan Singh, who recently helmed ‘The Kerala Story 2′. The film also stars Ritwik Bhowmik and Amruta Khanvilkar, and is produced by Anuya Chauhan Kudecha, Ritesh Kudecha, Umesh Kumar Bansal, Raedita, Akash Shah, Pranay Chokshi, Kalapi Shah, Kranti Shanbhag, Girish Johar and Meet Mojo. He also has ‘Khosla Ka Ghosla 2’ in the pipeline.
