Imtiaz Ali Recalls Asking Exhausted Naseeruddin Shah For Another Take: ‘He Should Have Slapped Me’

Imtiaz Ali’s upcoming film Main Vaapas Aaunga has already drawn attention for its ensemble cast, featuring Vedang Raina, Sharvari, Diljit Dosanjh and veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah. In a recent interaction, the filmmaker opened up about directing Naseeruddin and revealed how he kept pushing the actor for retakes, even though he later felt Shah should have “slapped” him for it.

Imtiaz Ali On Directing Naseeruddin Shah

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter India, Imtiaz said he took certain liberties with Naseeruddin Shah that he did not take with younger actors Vedang Raina and Sharvari. Looking back, he admitted that he may have pushed the veteran actor quite a bit during filming.

The filmmaker shared that he would often give instructions to Naseeruddin

in the middle of a take. According to him, the actor had the rare ability to absorb a direction instantly and reflect it immediately in his performance. However, the emotional weight of the scenes often left him drained.

Recalling one such moment from the climax, Imtiaz said, “He is the kind of actor who, if you say something, there will be a change instantly. After a beautiful take, when he was finished, exhausted everything, I remember telling Diljit that I was going to ask for one more take from him. Diljit said, ‘Oh baap rey, main toh bahar jaa raa hu, aap maanglo, all the best sir!’ Then Naseer said, ‘What nonsense… how can I do another take, what exactly do you want?!’ I said something and then he agreed. He is like a kid; he reacts like that. Because it is painful, and he is doing it with full intensity, which isn’t easy. But he did it.”

Imtiaz Says He Used Naseeruddin Shah’s First Take

Interestingly, despite asking Naseeruddin Shah to perform another take for the emotionally demanding scene, Imtiaz revealed that he finally used the first take in the film.

The director said he is excited for audiences to watch Shah in Main Vaapas Aaunga because the role presents the actor in a space that feels different from what viewers usually associate with him.

He said, “He is someone I am genuinely excited for people to see on screen because I have never seen him like this in any film. I didn’t want to cast him just to play a version of who we think he is. There has to be something new for a Naseeruddin Shah, because the man has already done everything.”

About Main Vaapas Aaunga

Main Vaapas Aaunga is a love story set against the backdrop of Partition. The film’s trailer showed Naseeruddin Shah’s character speaking to Diljit Dosanjh about an unfinished love story from his past.

Vedang Raina plays the younger version of Naseeruddin Shah’s character, while Sharvari stars as his love interest. The film also features Diljit Dosanjh in a key role.

Directed by Imtiaz Ali, Main Vaapas Aaunga is scheduled to release in theatres on June 12.