Naseeruddin Shah criticizes Bollywood, raises questions over mockery of religious identities

(Digital Report) Renowned Indian actor Naseeruddin Shah has openly criticized the way Bollywood portrays religious and social identities, saying that the Indian film industry has long used different religions as subjects of satire and comedy.

Speaking at a recent event, Naseeruddin Shah said Bollywood has often targeted various religious communities in its stories to create sensation and entertainment. According to him, this approach promotes shallow and repetitive stereotypes in cinematic narratives.

The actor questioned which religion has not been mocked in films. He stated that Sikh, Parsi, and Christian communities are frequently portrayed in humorous or stereotypical ways, while Muslims are mostly confined to limited and specific roles.

According to Naseeruddin Shah, Muslims in films are often restricted to characters who appear as the hero’s friend or supporter and usually end up sacrificing themselves at the end of the story. He said such portrayals reinforce a particular mindset that is far from reality.

The actor described Indian cinema as a “master of stereotypes,” saying films repeatedly recycle the same styles of stories and characters, which affects creative diversity and prevents new themes from emerging.

He further added that mocking others has become common in Indian society, while criticism against oneself is rarely tolerated. According to Naseeruddin Shah, cinema has strengthened this attitude, and now there is a serious need to reflect on it, especially as the Indian film industry has completed a century.