From Services to Jt. Director CBI Jasjit Singh
By Injila Khan. New Delhi
Major Mohammed Ali Shah appeared in various roles in films like “Haider” which won 5 National Awards. This time he will be seen entering bollywood in a bigger role. Being the nephew of one of the finest actors Mr. Naseeruddin Shah, having an institution like him in the family he felt to take this legacy further and implement what he has learnt from Naseer Sahab. Major Mohammed Ali Shah is portraying the role of a “Narrator” in National award winning film maker Tigmanshu Dhulia’s upcoming film “YAARA”. The film casts Vidyut Jamwal, Shruti Hasan, Amit Sadh, Vijay Verma, Kenny Basumatary and Major Mohammed Ali Shah in leading roles.
The movie shows the transformation of Major Mohammed Ali Shah into the character of Jasjit Singh, a Sikh gentleman. None of these pictures are from the film’s shoot or sets. The former is from the time he was serving in the Army and the latter one takes us back to the time he was preparing for the role and his amazing memories spent at the Golden temple in Amritsar.
He calls his role in the film his dream role since this role gives him a chance to display his talent as an actor perfectly. He plays this Sikh police officer who ages over two decades in the film from a young new IPS officer to ageing on towards retirement as the Jt. Director CBI. Ali devoted more than two and a half years of his life completely towards intense preparation for this part in the film and he totally immersed himself into the character to the extent that it made him unrecognizable. And this in itself is a positive outcome of the commitment he has for the film.
He wants to be recognised for his hardwork rather than his affable personality.
Film industry is no doubt glamorous but there is much more to it and Major Shah has proved this by playing a very non glamorous role that will reflect his acting skills for real. People want to look good especially on screen when the world’s eyes are on you.
But he believes in looking like the character more than focusing on looking ‘good’ on-screen and one has to really toil and put in all the hard work and labour in this profession. As an actor he believes in internalising the character and that’s how it can come out externally as well. He is of the view that unless he himself is convinced about the character he will not be able to convince others about the character.
I’d like to quote Major Mohammad Ali Shah, he says, “I am an artiste who wants to be known as a master craftsman of his trade. I am not after glamour, glitter, fame or money. What stimulates me is my passion and hunger to better myself towards my craft. Yes, good looks are totally unnecessary. But the audience appreciates talent and not the frills.”
Major Shah has done Theatre with Thespians such as Tom Alter and Naseer Uddin Shah. His father Lieutenant General Zameer Uddin Shah has served as the Deputy Chief of The Army Staff and also is the former Vice Chancellor of The Aligarh Muslim University and is currently the Pro Chancellor of the Prestigious USTM, has also been a member of the board of Welhams boys school and IIM Lucknow and a member of Steering Committee of Indian Muslims for Progress and Reforms. Coming from such a background, he could have thought that he would get things easily but he rather chose to take the harder road.
I wish Yaara to be a game changer for the entire team. It will be ecstatic to watch him in a role contrary to his personality off-screen. Hope one day Major Mohammed Ali Shah is known as a master craftsman of his trade. Show your love on the release of YAARA on July 30th on Zee 5
(Author is a Philanthropist, a Social Worker based at Delhi. She holds a Master’s degree in Conflict Analysis and Peace Building from Jamia Millia Islamia)
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