Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah has once again sparked debate after criticising Bollywood for what he described as a long-standing pattern of stereotyping communities and using religion as a source of humour and character construction.
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Speaking at a recent event, Shah questioned the film industry’s portrayal of various religious and social groups, saying Hindi cinema has historically relied on stereotypes and simplified character narratives.
“Which religion did Bollywood not make fun of?” Shah said in a viral clip, adding that Hindi films had become “masters of stereotyping.”
He argued that different communities, including Sikhs, Parsis and Christians, had frequently been represented through caricatures, while Muslim characters were often written within a fixed formula. According to Shah, Muslim roles were commonly portrayed as loyal friends of the protagonist who ultimately sacrificed themselves for the hero.
The veteran actor also criticised what he described as a broader social tendency toward mocking others while being sensitive to criticism directed at oneself.
“Our films have encouraged it and did it very consistently and deliberately,” he said, blaming cinema for reinforcing such attitudes over decades.
Shah further questioned the celebrations surrounding nearly a century of Indian cinema, suggesting that despite the industry’s long history, many storytelling patterns have remained unchanged.
His remarks have reignited discussions on social media, with some supporting his observations about representation and religious stereotyping in films, while others argued that older movies should be viewed within the context of their time and cultural environment.
The comments have once again brought attention to broader conversations about representation, sensitivity and evolving storytelling standards in Hindi cinema.
