Bollywood producer Ashoke Pandit has responded sharply to Naseeruddin Shah after the veteran actor backed students at Jamia Millia Islamia who are demanding the restoration of their union. The exchange has quickly become one of the most discussed celebrity rows of the week.
What started the argument
Naseeruddin Shah, 76, described himself as a proud “Dimagi Naxal” as he extended support to the protesting Jamia students. It is a phrase that signals an intellectual rebel, not any organisational link. He also accused the BJP-led central government of trying to damage the education system and break the courage of young people.
The actor’s remarks did not come in isolation. Last week, he also supported students at the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, who have been staging an indefinite sit-in over violent incidents on campus.
Ashoke Pandit’s personal rebuke
Pandit responded in personal terms. In remarks reported by ANI, he called Shah a “compulsive abuser” and said the actor’s choice of words and on-camera expressions are exposing his frustration. He added that this repeated behaviour is hurting the actor’s own public image.
“The more he vents out his frustration, he’s getting exposed day by day, every day,” Pandit said. He also suggested that Shah should consult a psychiatrist, saying the actor’s mental health is being affected and that a normal person would not behave this way.
The films Pandit is pointing to
Pandit connected the outburst to a discomfort with recent box-office successes. He named films such as The Kashmir Files, The Kerala Story and Dhurandhar, arguing that their narratives do not suit Shah and have left him with an inferiority complex.
- Jamia students are protesting to restore their union.
- Naseeruddin Shah has called himself a proud “Dimagi Naxal”.
- Ashoke Pandit has labelled the actor a “compulsive abuser”.
- Pandit has linked the behaviour to ideological unease with recent hits.
Why the row is spreading
For celebrity-watchers, this is not just a passing spat. It shows how film-industry figures are increasingly taking public positions on campus politics, and how those positions are being met with personal criticism rather than purely political debate. It also highlights the divide over the kind of stories Indian cinema should tell.
Clips from both men are circulating widely, and fans are already picking sides. The argument is moving fast on social media, with new reactions likely from industry colleagues.
What to watch next
Neither man has stepped back from his position so far. The Jamia union protest and the film institute sit-in remain live, which means the conversation around campus politics and celebrity speech is unlikely to cool down quickly. We are tracking who responds next.
Source: Hindustan Times
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