An old controversy involving veteran actors Naseeruddin Shah and Anupam Kher has resurfaced on social media, with a years-old video once again going viral after Anupam Kher’s recent remarks on the alleged donation irregularities at the Ayodhya Ram Temple.
The viral clip dates back to a 2020 interview in which Naseeruddin Shah spoke about members of the film industry who had either criticised or supported the government. During the conversation, Naseeruddin Shah said he did not take Anupam Kher seriously and called him “a clown”. He also claimed that many of Anupam Kher’s contemporaries from the National School of Drama (NSD) and the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) could confirm what he described as Anupam Kher’s “sycophantic nature”.
Following Naseeruddin Shah’s remarks, Anupam Kher responded with a video message on X (formerly Twitter). He said that although he had never spoken against Naseeruddin Shah before, he felt it was necessary to reply. Anupam Kher claimed that Naseeruddin Shah had lived with “frustration” despite his successful career and noted that he had also criticised well-known personalities such as Dilip Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna, Shah Rukh Khan and Virat Kohli.
Anupam Kher further alleged that Naseeruddin Shah’s long-term substance use affected his judgment, adding that people had never taken such remarks seriously.
Here is the video:
https://x.com/AnupamPKher/status/1219973369564626946
Click to watch this video directly on X
The old exchange has gained fresh attention after Anupam Kher commented on the alleged ₹2–7 crore donation fund irregularity linked to the Ayodhya Ram Temple. He described the issue as “minor” while comparing it to the destruction and loot during the Mughal era.
His comments drew criticism from several social media users, who questioned both the comparison and the timing of his statement. As the debate intensified, many users began resharing the 2020 clip of Naseeruddin Shah, bringing the actors’ old war of words back into public discussion.
