Naseeruddin Shah: Bollywood's History of Religious Stereotypes

Naseeruddin Shah has criticized Bollywood for its long history of stereotyping religious communities. At a recent event, the veteran actor questioned which religion Hindi cinema has not been mocked. He called Bollywood "the masters of stereotyping," noting that Sikhs, Parsis, and Christians have all been targeted, while Muslims are often shown in fixed roles.

Shah specifically pointed out that Muslim characters are frequently written as the protagonist's best friend who dies saving the hero. He argued that Indians have a tendency to laugh at others' misery but get offended when targeted themselves. He blamed films for not just reflecting this mindset but actively encouraging it consistently and deliberately.

The actor also questioned celebrations around Indian cinema's nearly 100-year milestone, stating that the same movies keep being made. He called religious mockery a "100-year-old tradition" in Hindi cinema. His remarks have sparked fresh debate online, with some seeing truth in his observations about lazy writing and others suggesting older comedy should be viewed in historical context.