"This is not the country I grew up in."
Indian actor Naseeruddin Shah has once again sparked debate after claiming he was disinvited from a university event over political discomfort.
In a strongly worded opinion piece, Shah alleged that the Urdu department at the University of Mumbai abruptly withdrew his invitation.
The veteran actor wrote that he had been invited to attend the university’s Jashn-e-Urdu festival scheduled for February 1, 2026.
He shared that he was genuinely excited about the invitation because it offered an opportunity to engage with students.
According to Shah, the organisers informed him late on January 31, 2025, that he “needn’t attend” the programme.
He stated that no official explanation was provided, nor was any apology extended for the sudden reversal.
Shah further alleged that the university management informed others that he had personally refused to attend the event.
Quoting a senior official anonymously, Shah claimed he was disinvited because he “openly makes statements against the country”.
Rejecting that allegation, the actor challenged authorities to “produce one single statement of mine in which I run down my country”.
He clarified that his criticism was directed at leadership and ideology, not at India as a nation.
Shah added that he has “never praised the self-proclaimed Vishwaguru”, a phrase often associated with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He wrote that the prime minister’s narcissism deeply offended him and failed to inspire admiration over the past decade.
In the article, Shah accused India’s ruling elite of lacking civic responsibility and failing to protect minority communities.
He concluded by likening the current environment to George Orwell’s dystopia, writing that “thought police” and “doublespeak” now dominate.
Reflecting emotionally, Shah stated: “This is not the country I grew up in and was taught to love”.
Days later, while speaking at an event in Hyderabad, Shah expressed regret over missing the Mumbai University interaction. Adding humour to the situation, he said:
“I felt like an uninvited wedding guest.”
Meanwhile, organisers of Jashn-e-Urdu released a clarification disputing Shah’s version of events.
They claimed Shah was never invited to their festival and was instead scheduled for a separate programme called Urdu Jalsa.
The organisers said the decision followed “university guidelines”, without elaborating further on those regulations.
Posts by the Bazm E Ahbab foundation, responsible for Urdu Jalsa, prominently featured Shah in promotional material.
The controversy fits into Naseeruddin Shah’s long-standing criticism of Prime Minister Modi and the BJP’s political approach.
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