Vijay Varma shares how Naseeruddin Shah once barred him from class before inviting him in, ‘He refused to take us in’

Actor Vijay Varma, who later shared screen space with Naseeruddin Shah, recently recalled how he and a friend once stood outside the veteran actor’s Pune acting class until Shah eventually invited them in. The actor reflected on the discipline and attention to detail he learned under Shah’s guidance.

A lifelong admiration

In a recent interview, Vijay Varma opened up about his longstanding admiration for Naseeruddin Shah. He revealed that since his early 20s, he had “hero-worshipped” the veteran actor and dreamed of both working with him and learning directly under him.Varma shared that during his time at the Film & Television Institute of India (FTII), Shah had visited the campus—both before and after Varma’s batch—so he missed the opportunity to attend his sessions.“He had come to the film school I was studying at, but before and after I was there,” Varma recalled.

The day Naseeruddin Shah refused him entry

Determined to learn from his idol, Varma said that when he found out Shah was conducting a class in Pune, he and a friend decided to enroll. However, Shah initially refused to let them in, believing their seniority might distract the younger students.“Shah refused to take us in,” Varma said. “He thought the other students would be distracted by our senior status.”

Despite being turned away, the two friends waited outside the classroom the entire day. Their patience eventually paid off — by evening, Shah noticed them and invited them to join the next session.Varma described the following two months under Shah’s mentorship as transformative:“Getting an opportunity to work with Naseeruddin Shah for two months in the winters made my life successful.”

Learning under a master

Reflecting on Shah’s teaching style, Varma said the veteran was exacting and highly observant.“He was meticulous. He’d catch you. If you try to be smart about it, boss, you’re gone! He’s got a very sharp eye!” he shared.

From student to co-star

Years later, Varma’s long-held dream came full circle as he got the chance to share screen space with his mentor in the upcoming film ‘Gustaakh Ishq’.