Anupam Kher has spoken again about his strained relationship with Naseeruddin Shah. The tension between the two actors goes back years and often becomes a talking point in the industry. This time, Anupam has shared that Naseeruddin recently apologised to him in person for calling him a “clown”.
Anupam Kher On His Bitter Relationship With Naseeruddin Shah
Anupam opened up during a conversation with Samdish on his YouTube channel. He said he sometimes feels targeted by Naseeruddin. He also revealed that the Fateh actor apologised to him for the 2020 remark that caused a major controversy.
Anupam said he still respects Naseeruddin. He spoke about their recent meeting and said, “I still have great respect for him. However, he sometimes speaks loosely about me. We did meet recently, where he apologised and said – Sorry, yaar. We met at HD Pathak’s death. When we met there, he hugged me, because I always hug him. I genuinely like him a lot, and he is one of the actors who inspired me to take up acting. But I think sometimes he just says things like that.”
He then shared what he feels is behind the ongoing friction. He said, “I don’t want to say this out loud, but he is a brilliant and intelligent man, and God has given him so much. Nobody is a bigger star than him in parallel cinema. Yet, I think there is some kind of bitterness that sometimes targets me, sometimes Dilip Kumar, and sometimes Rajesh Khanna.”
How Their Conflict Began
The conflict between the two actors began in 2020 when Naseeruddin criticised Anupam for his political views. In an interview with The Wire, he said, “Someone like Anupam Kher has been very vocal. I don’t think he needs to be taken seriously. He’s a clown. Any number of his contemporaries from NFD and FTII can attest to his sycophantic nature. It’s in his blood; he can’t help it.” The comment went viral and sparked intense debate.
Anupam responded at the time with a video on X. He said, “Despite achieving so much success, you have spent your entire life in frustration. If you can criticise Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Virat Kohli, then I am sure I am in great company.”
Even now, the tension has not fully disappeared. However, Anupam’s latest comments suggest he is open to peace. He spoke with admiration for Naseeruddin and praised his contribution to cinema. At the same time, he admitted that the remarks over the years have hurt him.
Anupam Kher: Work Front
The veteran actor was recently seen in the Canadian drama Calorie, directed by Eisha Marjara. The film stars Ellora Patnaik and Dolly Ahluwalia. It premiered at the Calgary International Film Festival in September 2025 and later screened at the International Film Festival of India. It was released in Canada on November 28.
Anupam will next be seen in the Telugu film The Indian House with Nikhil Siddhartha.
