Srivathsan Nadadhur
An actor is always privileged to be donning a variety of roles and for having the opportunity to live an alternate life in front of the camera. Which other profession lets you be a chameleon and get paid for it? Mohammed Ali Shah hasn’t only gotten to play characters donning the greasepaint; his life beyond films has been as colourful. Shah, born to a serviceman who’s a brother of actor Naseeruddin Shah, has had a stint in theatre before he got selected for the short service commission and had worked for five years in the army.
Grabbing a seat at IIM Calcutta later, he dabbled with life in the corporate sector, returning to Mumbai to become an actor. The army stint has been integral in adding authenticity to the many brief roles he has had in films, be it Haider or Bajrangi Bhaijaan or Agent Vinod. All his experiences have made him a better person and also gave a strong footing in another arena, as a motivational speaker. Two of his works, Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Yaara and the Amit Sadh-starrer Avrodh, have made it to OTT platforms recently. Klapboardpost.com tries to establish what goes into having a versatile career in this chat with him…
The humble beginnings
My journey in films started in 1998; I went to Pune for my graduation; I would do every odd job on the sets, picking up the tripod, camera, serving tea, doing location hunting, sitting for workshops and what not! I won a talent hunt in Pune, worked extensively in Marathi theatre including Sriram Lagoo’s plays, watched Mohan Agashe perform. Every weekend, I used to travel to Mumbai and be around my uncle Naseeruddin Shah, an institution in himself. I tried to make it to the NSD twice and it didn’t come through. One of my batchmates during the workshops where I was preparing for NSD was actor Pankaj Tripathi, whom I was very sure that he would have a glorious career in films. Acting is something one can never teach you, one needs to be a keen observer to learn. Everyone who has made it big in any industry started small and built their career on merit; nothing about it can be hereditary.
Landing a role in Haider
After stints in the Indian army, IIM Calcutta, having worked in the corporate sector, I left everything for an acting career. The day I landed in Mumbai again, I went onto sign Vishal Bhardwaj’s Haider. I told him it was impossible to find someone who is an actor, with a stint in the army and has also been a theatreperson. Given that the film was set in Kashmir, it was inevitable that it had to involve an army officer; my access to ex-service men was priceless for the film. I promised him the authenticity that my presence would bring to the backdrop. The film received rave reviews and was a hit at all the award ceremonies it had gone to.
The ‘Yaara’ opportunity and what went into it
Tigmanshu Dhulia liked my work in Haider and had signed me for Yaara. I was told to be playing a Sikh police officer. When they had narrated the story to me, I felt it was a very crucial, solid role and the film was unfolding through my eyes and voice. I had to portray two looks – young and old ones. The story is about four friends, small-time gangsters who turn business tycoons over time. I play someone who is after them from their early days and witnesses their journey in totality.
Sometime later, I had gone to the Golden Temple, Amritsar in the general queue and told the authorities about my background and that I wanted to learn about Sikhism. It wasn’t merely about preparing for the role; I wanted to learn their way of life. I stayed for a month at the cook-house, growing my hair and beard, mopping the floors, picking and washing utensils, serving food for everyone in the morning hours, making tea. I completed reading the Guru Granth Sahib; the experience transformed me. Most importantly, I quit smoking, having been a chain smoker in the past.
The challenges of the profession
Acting, as far as I know, is not a glamorous profession. If one is looking for fame and money, this shouldn’t be their area of work at all. I have been someone who has worked in films like Haider, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Vodka Diaries, Agent Vinod and I haven’t ever chased recognition. I have only played the characters I was given to the fullest of my ability. In the case of Yaara, I knew I had to convince myself to play Jasjeet Singh. I grew my hair and beard for two and a half years for the film. I had to say no to all other work that had come my way because I was getting to be the backbone of a film.
If I couldn’t believe that I was Jasjeet Singh in Yaara and not Mohammed Ali Shah, how will I be able to convince the world? I spoke to a lot of police officers to be in the skin of the character. I was so prepared to play it. In the day when the stylist wasn’t on the set, I knew enough about wearing a turban right. The transformation was immense and I had learnt great Punjabi too. Through the journey, Tigmanshu Dhulia as a filmmaker was very approachable, open to suggestions and makes an actor feel very comfortable on the sets. I had also done a film called Raagdesh with him. Being a brilliant actor himself, he knew well to empathise with actors, who tend to be a sensitive lot. This was in 2014; many years flew by and Yaara didn’t release. I was hoping for the best, but was also preparing myself for the worst. I put in so much hard work, I am glad we’re talking about its release now.
On being stereotyped as the ‘uniform person’ in films
I have been stereotyped to play the man donning the uniform; but I don’t hold it against the filmmakers for that. I have got to play such roles because of my journey in such professions throughout my career. I am at least getting work and have been able to put food on my table because of it, unlike a few. It is a very tough industry, but I am still getting to hone my craft, be in touch with it. It was only because of my stint and discipline in the army that I have been able to report onset 30 minutes before schedule.
In Haider, I got to play an army officer with a moustache of a different battalion; in Bajrangi Bhaijaan, I was a Pakistani prison officer. Yaara, I’m sure, will break that mould (of being stereotyped). Acting is all about staying true to a certain character; a spectator would know well if I’m being authentic or not. I’m glad I’m contributing to that honesty. I have not made it to NSD twice, but as fate would have it, I’m a visiting faculty at Subhash Ghai’s Whistling Wood institute. I may not have been a reel life hero, but have gotten the opportunity to stand alongside real-life heroes from the army. Thousands come to Mumbai for being a star and not an actor, but I’ve been clear about my priorities.
A career as a motivational speaker
Having worked extensively in theatre, I was never after glamour but the craft. It gave me more than I have ever asked for; made me a better public speaker and it had a lot of say in my career as a motivational speaker. There was a situation where I was invited for a talk at the Cambridge University or alternatively asked to speak for their webinar, but I was shooting for Jahnu Barua’s Assamese film produced by Priyanka Chopra. I missed out on a golden opportunity just because I had a mental block in accessing technology.
The pandemic has changed everything; I adapted myself with time and here I am getting paid for webinars while addressing notable personalities across various parts of the globe, giving motivational talks and performing plays online. It was the same time that we were informed about Yaara releasing online on July 30. There is no better instance to say that patience pays off. Army training gives you all the wherewithal to handle everything; you become a gentleman for life. I am grateful for the industry. No role is big or small and I need to be seen even to get opportunities.
I was invited to TedX Amritsar in January 2019 and I was of the impression that only highly successful personalities were eligible to speak on such a forum. I wondered what prompted them to have me as a speaker but I went onto receive three standing ovations during a 15-minute talk. Ever since, there hasn’t been a single TedX event where I haven’t been invited. I have given the highest number of TedX talks in the world. Several other forums have gone onto inviting me and I am having a good run as a motivational speaker, being one of the highest-paid personalities in this space in the country. It looks after my kitchen. I have an option to join the army even now.
On being a nephew to Naseeruddin Shah and the family man in him
‘It’s important to be a good person before becoming a good actor’ was what Naseeruddin Shah had told me in my younger days. In the recent conversations though, his perception was different; he reminded me that Charlie Chaplin may not have been the greatest human being in the world, but was the greatest actor this industry has ever produced. Naseeruddin Shah is a very good human being, generous to a fault. He is a committed family man and would always place it above his profession; he’s a great father and has been a great brother to my father, the camaraderie with his brothers is amazing.
He has always extended a helping hand to actors and was instrumental in shaping the career of Randeep Hooda through his teaching. I never asked him to introduce me to the industry, not even when I wasn’t doing financially great in Mumbai. My take to nepotism is ‘pehchaan se mila hua kaam zyaada din nahi rehta hai, magar apne kaam se mili hui pehchaan zindagi bhar rehti hai’. Someone’s reference might open you a door, but the sustenance later is completely dependent on how you conduct yourself.
What does it mean to be in the army?
Being in the army and having been the son of an army person, I can say they are the nation’s true heroes. My father was the first Muslim officer to have rose to the ranks of being a deputy chief of the army staff. They make so many sacrifices, it’s not a 9 to 5 job, you need to be alert 24 X 7. When there is any disaster lurking in the country in any form, your first resort help from the army, be it floods, earthquakes, tsunami, riots, nabbing criminals or for being part of rescue acts. I did my early schooling in the Indo-China border. Everyday I’ve been going live on television and speaking on the Indo-China conflict and I believe they are doing a fine job. We’re being able to sleep in peace today because they’re guarding our national frontiers.
