Annu Kapoor criticizes Naseeruddin Shah over 'Dimagi Naxal' remark: 'I have serious reservations about people who make such statements'

Veteran actor Annu Kapoor has questioned Naseeruddin Shah's views on India's interests following the latter's recent 'Dimagi Naxal' remark.The discussion began after Naseeruddin Shah shared a video on Tuesday supporting students of Delhi's Jamia Millia Islamia. The students have been protesting to demand the restoration of their student union. Shah appeared in the video wearing a badge with the words 'Dimagi Naxal'.Annu Kapoor questions Naseeruddin Shah's 'Dimagi Naxal' statementSpeaking to ANI, Annu expressed doubts about how seriously Naseeruddin considers the country's interests and welfare. He said, "He may be good at delivering dialogues, but I doubt how much he genuinely thinks about the country's interests and welfare. I have serious reservations about people who make such statements. It is our democracy that allows them to speak freely, make such statements and hold protests."Naseeruddin Shah supports Jamia Millia Islamia studentsThe controversy followed a video in which Naseeruddin Shah extended his support to students and said, "I proudly declare that I am Dimagi Naxal. I don't know what other nicknames the watchmen have given to people like me, anti-national, tukde tukde gang, and I don't know what else."Shah has also used his social media platforms to support student demonstrations in recent months. His recent interventions include expressing solidarity with students protesting at the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) in Kolkata last week.Ashoke Pandit accuses Naseeruddin Shah of repeatedly using abusive languageFilmmaker Ashoke Pandit has joined the criticism, expressing strong disapproval of Shah's recent remarks. He alleged, "I'm not shocked, nor am I surprised by Naseeruddin Shah's abusive language because, since the last few months, in fact for a year, he has been constantly misbehaving and has become a compulsive abuser. The kind of language which he uses, the way he distorts his face, he exposes his frustration. There are reasons behind it, I can understand, and I pity him. When I see him totally distorted, totally frustrated on camera, and he's trying to vent out his frustration, the more he vents out his frustration, the more he is getting exposed day by day, every day."'The Kashmir Files', 'The Kerala Story' and 'Dhurandhar' enter the debateAshoke Pandit also connected his criticism to the reception of certain commercially successful Hindi films. He suggested that the narratives explored in these projects might be among the reasons behind Shah's reactions. The filmmaker said, "Probably one of the reasons why he's feeling insecure is that the films which are doing well in the in the in the country is not suiting him. Films like Kashmir Files, Kerala Story, Dhurandhar. These narratives are not suiting them. They're suffering from an inferiority complex. Hence, this is kind of behaviour with which he's trying to come out. So I think, in the end, I would like to tell him that he should consult a psychiatrist because it's affecting his mental health. A normal person will not behave like this,"Get the latest Bollywood & Entertainment News, and more. Download the TOI app.Give your child the gift of confidence! Claim your exclusive TOI Masterclass spot today!