An actor like Naseeruddin Shah doesn’t need to prove his credentials any more. But some of the choices he makes as an actor continue to make you sit up and applaud his skills.

The film industry in Pakistan may be in the doldrums but the first film that has leapt over the border into India and makes compelling viewing is Shoaib Mansoor’s Khuda Kay Liye. A film that examines the wrongs perpetrated by Muslims on their own community in the name of God crane-lifted the film industry in Pakistan and gave it much-needed financial relief last year. Not surprisingly, Khuda Kay Liye was not only a huge hit in Pakistan but was overwhelmingly accepted, commercially and critically, in other parts of the world too.

With Naseeruddin Shah, the only Indian actor in its main cast, Khuda Kay Liye is really the most appropriate film to open the market in India to films from the neighbouring country. Naseer, playing a fervent Muslim, is the lawyer who presents a thundering case against injustice perpetrated (in this case, on a young woman) in the name of God. And the actor is not only someone you admire for making an impact as a performer but also for being a man who is unafraid to take on the controversial.

While Khuda Kay Liye will be in Indian cinemas by next weekend, Naseeruddin Shah has moved on to another film that he has quietly completed in the UK. In Jagmohan Mundhra’s Shoot On Sight Naseeruddin Shah takes on the role of an upright police officer, married to a white woman (Greta Sacchi) who doesn’t convert to Islam. That is, of course, only a small, side track that establishes the police officer’s secular personality even as he continues to follow his faith with devotion.

When extreme fanaticism hits Britain after the underground bombings, it is Naseer who presents the anti-terror, Muslim face of the police officer and does it with aplomb. But his faith in the police force is shaken when his own loyalty is heart-wrenchingly questioned. In a bit of surprise casting, Gulshan Grover (the bad man of Hindi cinema), playing a butcher, is, like Naseer, law-abiding and disapproving of the jehadi ways of some members of his community, while Om Puri is the rabble-rousing, subversive mullah.

All three Indian actors pull off their roles with proficiency, especially Naseer, who has the most difficult role to play in Shoot On Sight. Now what is interesting is that Amitabh Bachchan had evinced interest in this role initially, but had become incommunicado to Jagmohan Mundhra once he understood what the film was about. When you watch the film, you admire Naseer but you also know that Amitabh Bachchan would’ve given it a different dimension altogether. Without taking away from Naseer’s skills, AB would’ve taken it to a higher level and given it a commercial grade that a cast led by Naseer and Om cannot give a film.

Still, Naseer is so impeccable that you sit back and enjoy him as the police officer with a myriad emotions playing on his face. And, when you know that AB stepped out, you pat Naseer for taking on yet another controversial role without fear.

Talking of the Bachchan, what a coincidence that both he and Jaya have individually done an Indian film each, both films in English and shot in Kolkata. Amitabh Bachchan’s The Last Lear has been talked about for nearly a year, although its commercial release is still to be announced. Meanwhile, Jaya Bachchan has quietly completed Love Songs, a film by Jayabrato Chatterjee which was released on Friday. You’ve got to hand it to the Bachchans — irrespective of the grade of the film (whether sublime or inane), they lend a particular dignity to almost any project.

Hey, psst!

The TV channels couldn’t have enough of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan gushing over Siku (Sikandar Kher, son of Kirron Kher) who is like Abhishek’s little brother (“He’s family”) at the music release of his film Summer 2007. Oh well, never mind the ups and downs in the Abhishek-Sikandar friendship since there are large spells when the Bachchans pointedly keep Kirron’s volatile little boy out of their celebrations. When Sikandar got into a scrap with Sohail Khan a couple of years ago, he’d become persona non grata since Siku had downed a few extra ones at the Bachchans’ place before he went out and got into a tiff with Salman’s brother!

Bharathi S. Pradhan is managing editor of Movie Mag International