Actor-writer Piyush Mishra has taken a sharp jibe at veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah following the latter’s appearance at a Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest in Mumbai, asking his long-time colleague to also speak up on other recent national issues.
Shah joined a CJP demonstration at Shivaji Park on Friday, where the party — which recently returned to active protest politics — demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Following the event, Mishra released a video on social media directly targeting Shah with a series of pointed questions.
“Yes, Naseer Sahib, I offer my regards. I am Piyush Mishra, an old acquaintance of yours,” Mishra said in the video message, adding, “Sir, an accident was averted recently on Fly Dubai, a flight from Tel Aviv… Mr. Smith Machchhar, through his bravery, saved 180 lives. Please comment on that as well, and congratulate him, sir.”
Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian pilot commanding a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, recently made headlines after thwarting an attempted 9/11-style mid-air crash by his co-pilot. Despite sustaining severe injuries in a cockpit attack, Machchhar managed to unlock the cockpit door, allowing crew and passengers to intervene, safely diverting the aircraft and saving 174 passengers on board.
Mishra also questioned Shah over not commenting on the police action during a recent student protest at Lovely Professional University, referencing Shah’s past remarks on student movements.
“You were saying, ‘These students have taught me as much as the National School of Drama (NSD) and Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) have taught me’… I don’t know when these students became acting teachers. If you find it, please disclose it,” Mishra added.
He further claimed that when he previously reached out to Shah regarding ground relief in Jharkhand, Shah responded with poetry rather than material support. “When I asked you for help for Jharkhand, you sent me a poem by a Pakistani poet. They didn’t want a poem… They wanted flour, lentils, bread, jaggery, litti, and chokha,” Mishra said.
Mishra’s remarks follow his own active involvement in student issues. He had previously travelled to Jharkhand to stand in solidarity with protesting students, attending their demonstrations on the ground and questioning the broader film industry’s lack of visible support for their cause.
Neither Shah nor his representatives have issued a response to Mishra’s video statement.
Shah’s appearance in Mumbai comes as the CJP steps up its campaign against the Election Commission. The party has announced a major protest at New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on October 10 if Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar does not resign, alongside plans to expand its agitation across other key cities including Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Ranchi.
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