We accept anything from Hollywood: Naseer

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><script language="javascript" src="Config?Configid=43376741"></script></div> <div align="left" style="position:relative; left: -2"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="left" border="1" width="77.5%"> <colgroup> <col width="100.0%" /> </colgroup> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:="" f3f3f3=""> <div class="Normal"><a href="javascript:popUp(&quot1;photopop?msid=181000&type=0&quot1;)"> <img border="0" align="left" src="/cms.dll/thumb?height=181&width=181&photoID=181000" hspace="12"" /></a></div> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:="" f3f3f3=""> <div class="Normal"><span style="" font-size:="">Click to enlarge picture</span></div> </td> </tr> </table></div> <div class="Normal">On the heels of the release of his first Hollywood film, <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen,</span> <span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Naseeruddin Shah</span> grapples with all the issues that have chased him for the better part of his career.Sometimes he deals with them in all earnestness, much like the actor we know. Sometimes his tongue is caught firmly in his cheek, much like the person we know: <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Why does Hollywood offer Indian actors only unimportant roles? </span><br /><br />They do so because Indian actors happily accept any Hollywood role that comes their way. I''ve been getting such offers too, over the years. But I waited until I got <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen</span>, where the role demands more than just my being an Indian. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Was your experience with the film pleasant or unpleasant? </span><br /><br />It was pleasant enough. They agreed to all my terms and conditions and accepted the fact that there was no way I was going to give an audition. Why should an established actor audition for a director who''s only making his second or third film? If they wanted to cast me directly, they were welcome. And they did. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">How does it feel to be an extraordinary actor with such ordinary roles? </span><br /><br />I can only select from roles which come my way. Besides, it isn''t my job to see whether the roles are ordinary or not. It''s my job to get involved in my roles and deliver my best. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Why have you abandoned art films? </span><br /><br />Ask this question to those directors who used to make art films once upon a time — the key phrase here being ''used to''. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Why do you criticise everything, whether it''s art films or mainstream cinema? </span><br /><br />That''s because I''m a born grouse. Airing grouses against everything comes naturally to me. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Why aren''t you part of the re-experimentation that''s taking place in Bollywood now? </span><br /><br />I don''t find any of it even remotely interesting. Besides, it''s still the same old Bollywood. Giving different name-tags to the same old films don''t change the films. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Why have so many of your trysts with Bollywood been so bad? </span><br /><br />Oh, but I''ve enjoyed myself thoroughly! Perhaps one day I''ll have a festival of all my not-so-memorable films, where the grand finale will be <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Mujhe Meri Biwi Se Bachao</span>. On second thoughts, even that''s not my worst film, I''ve done worse. Seriously speaking, I have no regrets, it''s all part of life. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Why have you never spoken out on public issues like many of your contemporaries? </span><br /><br />I''ve never considered my opinion or voice important, when it comes to important public issues.</div> </div>