Naseeruddin Shah Claims He Was Disinvited From Mumbai University Event Without Explanation

Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah has said he was disivited at the last minute from an event organised by the Urdu department of Mumbai University, alleging that no explanation or apology was offered by the institution.

In an opinion piece published in The Indian Express, Shah said he was looking forward to attending Jashn-e-Urdu, scheduled for February 1, as it would have given him an opportunity to interact with students.

However, he was informed late on the night of January 31 that his presence was no longer required.

Calling the experience insulting and disappointing, the actor said the university later conveyed to the audience that he had refused to attend, a claim he strongly denied.

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Shah wrote that a senior university official reportedly justified the decision by saying that he “openly makes statements against the country”.

Responding to the allegation, the actor challenged the official to produce even a single statement in which he had spoken against India.

The actor clarified that while he has often been critical of the ruling dispensation, his criticism stems from concern for the country’s social and democratic values.

He said he has spoken out on issues such as declining civic sense, the treatment of student activists, communal violence, and changes in educational content.

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Shah also expressed concern over what he described as a growing culture of intolerance and surveillance, questioning how long such hostility could be sustained. Drawing a comparison to George Orwell’s 1984, he warned against equating dissent with disloyalty.

Naseeruddin Shah is regarded as one of Indian cinema’s most respected actors, known for films such as Nishant, Aakrosh, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, Masoom and Sparsh.