Naseeruddin Shah is certainly one of the most versatile and talented actors of the industry and some time back, he was in the news for making controversial statements regarding the movies – Gadar 2, The Kashmir Files and The Kerala Story.
Well it is difficult to believe but do you know that the actor who played lead characters in his youth was once stabbed in the back by someone who was his friend at one point of time.
In his memoir, ‘And Then One Day’, Naseeruddin Shah wrote that while shooting for Bhoomika (1977), once he went out for lunch with his friend Om Puri when his friend Jaspal with whom he was having a strained relationship came in the restaurant. Naseer wrote, “We ignored each other but, eyes fixed on me, he passed to sit on another table behind me, so I thought. After a while, I was reminded of his presence by what felt like a short sharp punch in the middle of my back. I started to rise, wearily preparing myself for another free-for-all. Before I could move, Om with a strangled cry lunged at something behind me. I turned to see Jaspal holding a small knife, its point dripping blood, his hand raised to strike again, and Om and two others grappling to subdue him.”
He further revealed, “Om returned to inform me that Jaspal had been taken to the kitchen and was being given the treatment. He wanted to take me to a doctor but was thwarted by the restaurant staff refusing to let us move till the police arrived. When the ambulance came, Om made the cardinal error of climbing in as well without permission and managed to rile the boss-man, thereby asking the cops to be gentle with me. He was ordered to get off and after considerable pleading with the goon in charge was allowed to stay. Neither of us had an idea where we were headed but I prayed it was not the police station.”
The actor was taken to Cooper hospital as he wrote, “The bleeding had not seized, the pain was getting intense and these cops obviously had not quite understood the situation. After a few cursory questions to us, and some garbled transmissions over the radio in Marathi, we arrived at Cooper Hospital in Juhu.”
He also narrated that Jaspal came to meet him but he didn’t ask for forgiveness, instead he explained that there was nothing personal in whatever happened.
