Naseeruddin Shah : Don’t know why we hanker after Oscars

Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah fails to understand Indian filmmakers’ fascination for Oscars and he says appreciation from the audience should matter the most.

“Court”, a multi-lingual drama by debutant director Chaitanya Tamhane, has been selected to officially represent the country in the Best Foreign Film category at the 88th Oscars next year.

India has never won an Oscar in the category. The last Indian film that made it to the final five list was Ashutosh Gowariker’s “Lagaan”.

“Mother India” and “Salaam Bombay” are the other two Indian films to have made it to the top five.

“I don’t really care about the Oscars. I don’t know why we (Indian film industry) hanker after this Oscar business. I do feel ‘Court’ is one of the finest films. It is the best film in recent times,” Shah told reporters here when asked about its chances at the Oscars.

“I think it should be enough for makers of ‘Court’ that the film has been liked and much appreciated in our own country and that is what matters,” Shah said.

“Court” is inspired by the real life story of a folk singer Jiten Marandi, who got embroiled in a criminal case after a bomb blast.

Inputs by PTI