Farhan Akhtar recently opened up about the remarks made by veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah on his films and acting. The two shared screen space in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobaraa, where Farhan played Shah’s on-screen son, but the actor says he never felt the need to reach out after the critique. In an interview with Galatta Plus, Farhan explained why he chose not to reach out to Naseeruddin after the comments. Constructive Feedback Comes With Respect: Farhan Akhtar When asked if he contacted Naseeruddin about his criticism, Farhan said no and explained why. “I have been doing films for 25 years. There are certain actors, directors, writers who I have known and they have debuted maybe 10 years after me. If there is something in their work that I feel, from my observation, that this could be better or that I have this piece of advice to give them… genuinely I would pick up the phone and call them. Or say I would like to meet you and sit down and have a conversation with a person who I care about in a sensitive way because you are going into somebody’s creative process, and giving them constructive feedback from your point of view,” he said. He added, “But it has to be done with a certain degree of love, and a certain degree of respect for the other person. I felt that it didn’t come from that place. I just felt it was just like a statement thrown out publicly. I felt that then this person doesn’t respect you… so why should I reach out to a person who doesn’t respect me?” Naseeruddin Shah’s 2013 Remarks On Farhan Akhtar For context, in a 2013 Times of India interview, Naseeruddin had said, “Farhan Akhtar’s films I clearly don’t care for. I liked his first film Dil Chahta Hai. He’s a tremendous person and has so many facets to him. Tomorrow I won’t be surprised if I hear that he cooked a 10 course meal to perfection. He sings, acts, produces films and writes, I think it’s great he’s doing whatever he can. I’m not a great fan of his acting or his films. But I admire him.” Farhan Akhtar Movies Son of legendary screenwriter Javed Akhtar, Farhan began in Bollywood as an assistant director on Lamhe (1991) and Himalay Putra (1997). He went on to direct Dil Chahta Hai, Lakshya, and Don, and acted in films including Rock On!, Luck By Chance, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, and Dil Dhadakne Do. His next project is 120 Bahadur.