In an interview to discuss how he views the recent election results and what they portend for the future, Naseeruddin Shah, one of India’s foremost actors both on stage and screen, has said, “I’d like to see Modi wear a skull cap someday.” Calling it “a gesture”, Shah said it would signify to Muslims that Modi has “no aversion” to them. He added, “If he can convince Muslims of that it would be a great help.”
Shah also told Karan Thapar, “Modi has been talking less and less sense over the years.” He added, if Modi believes he has been sent by God or is God, “that should scare the daylights out of everybody”.
Shah said that Modi had assumed “he’ll be prime minister for life” and now sharing power “will be a bitter pill for him to swallow”.
Shah said his first reaction on hearing the news that the BJP had lost its majority and fallen to its worst Lok Sabha result in 10 years “was to gloat” but he also heaved “a sigh of relief”.
Asked by The Wire if Modi will find it easy or difficult to transform from old Modi to new Modi, Shah suggested that it could be a very difficult task for the prime minister. Shah added, “He’s not that good an actor…his measured smile and crocodile tears have never convinced me…he can’t put on a convincing act of becoming the new Modi.”
