Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah went without bathing for about one-and-a-half to two months while preparing for his role in the 1981 film Chakra, actor Gulshan Grover has said, writes Gulf News.
Grover recalled the story during an appearance on The Kapil Sharma Show, saying Shah adopted the approach to immerse himself fully in his character.
“When I was new in movies, I had heard that Naseeruddin Shah, a great actor, didn’t take a bath for 1.5–2 months for his film Chakra. He wanted to be in the character,” Grover said.
Grover, who said he bathes two to four times a day whenever possible, joked that he could never match Shah’s level of dedication.
He added humourously that fate instead gave him roles in which he wore suits and held a drink.
Rabindra Dharmaraj directed Chakra, which was released in 1981 and remained his only directorial venture.
The drama starred Shah alongside Smita Patil and Kulbhushan Kharbanda.
Set in Mumbai’s slums, the film explores poverty and survival through Amma, played by Patil, and her son Benwa.
Their lives become intertwined with petty criminal Lukka, played by Shah.
Decades later, Shah remains active in Indian cinema. His recent credits include Assi and Imtiaz Ali’s Main Vaapas Aaunga, released in 2026.
He will next appear in the action thriller Maharagni: Queen of Queens, alongside Kajol and Prabhu Deva.
