Naseeruddin Shah was born on July 20, 1950, in Barabanki, a small village in Uttar Pradesh, India. He hails from a Nawab family and is a seasoned Bollywood actor, renowned for his remarkable performances in numerous films.
Shah's educational background includes studying at St. Anselm's Ajmer School in Rajasthan, St. Joseph's College in Nainital, and Aligarh Muslim University, where he completed his graduation in 1971. He also attended the National School of Drama, New Delhi.
At the age of 19, Shah married Manara Sikri, a 36-year-old divorcee, and they had a daughter, Heeba Shah, in 1971. However, the couple parted ways after 12 years of marriage.
In the 1970s, Shah met Ratna Pathak Shah, a Bollywood actress and daughter of Dina Pathak, and they fell in love. They co-starred in several films and got married in 1982. They have two sons, Imaaduddin Shah and Vivaan Shah, and currently reside in Mumbai with their children.
Shah's acting career began at the age of 18 with an uncredited role in Aman (1967),followed by his debut in Sapnon Ka Saudagar (1969),starring Hema Malini and Raj Kapoor. Although his scene was removed before the film's release, he went on to feature in various movies, including Nishant (1975),Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983),Katha (1983),and Junoon (1979).
In 1974, Shah founded Motley Productions, a theatre company, and their inaugural production was Waiting for Godot. He has also directed plays written by Lavender Kumar, Ismat Chughtai, and Saadat Hasan Manto.
Shah gained popularity with his films Hum Paanch (1980) and Masoom (1983),and has since been a part of several multi-star Bollywood movies, including Ghulami (1985),Tridev (1989),and Tridev (1989). He completed his 100th movie as an actor with Mohra (1994).
Shah has also been a part of international projects, such as the Hollywood adaptation of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003),where he played Captain Nemo. He has won numerous awards, including three National Film Awards, three Filmfare awards, one IIFA award, and two Bengal Film Journalists' Association awards.