'Rajesh Khanna broke the mould and yet, became the biggest superstar of Indian cinema.'
Naseeruddin Shah's comment on late superstar Rajesh Khanna seems to have irked his colleague and seasoned actor Om Puri.
"I wonder why Naseer has called Rajesh Khanna a poor actor," he says. "Has he seen Mr Khanna’s films? I remember his earliest film Aakhri Khat and Bahaaron Ke Sapne, which were not quite the commercial products.
"Then I remember him in the huge successes like Anand and Amar Prem. Rajesh Khanna broke the mould and yet, became the biggest superstar of Indian cinema. I don’t think Naseer or I can ever dream of achieving the kind of success Rajesh Khanna did," he adds.
The actor is unable to understand in what context Naseer called Rajesh Khanna a poor actor.
"How was he a poor actor... and in relation to whom? A lot of people would compare Naseer and me unfavourably with internationally renowned actors like Marlon Brandon, Richard Burton, Robert De Niro, Alec Guinness and Jack Nicholson. I think every actor must be judged on his own individual merit. It’s like comparing the Taj Mahal with the Eiffel Tower," he continues.
Om Puri doesn't stop there.
"There is no need for an actor to assess the work of a fellow-actor, especially one who is no more," he says. "Why doesn’t Naseer comment on the caliber of contemporary actors like Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan and Amitabh Bachchan? These actors can speak for themselves, if they want. Unfortunately, Rajesh Khanna can’t."
