Farhan Akhtar Defends His Acting in 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag' After Naseeruddin Shah's Criticism

Two years ago, in 2023, veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah had publicly criticized Farhan Akhtar's performance in the 2013 film 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag', calling it "a completely fake film". This discussion has now resurfaced, with Farhan responding to Shah's comments in a recent interview.

Farhan, who portrayed the role of athlete Milkha Singh in the biopic, expressed disappointment over the manner in which Shah chose to voice his criticism. Farhan, who has known Shah since childhood and worked with him in 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara', said he would have preferred a direct conversation instead of Shah's public remarks, which Farhan described as "distasteful".

Shah's original comments were direct, as he had told IANS that he "doesn't care about Farhan Akhtar" and that building up physical appearance alone does not equate to working hard on acting. Farhan, in response, emphasized the importance of handling such matters privately, stating that he would have picked up the phone and invited Shah over to discuss the issues he had with Farhan's performance.

Despite the ongoing debate, Farhan is now gearing up for the release of his new film '120 Bahadur', which is set to hit the screens on November 21, 2025. The film recounts the Battle of Rezang La, a major event during the Sino-Indian War, with Farhan playing the role of Major Shaitan Singh.