In a 2011 interview with veteran journalist Saeed Naqvi during the promotions of 7 Khoon Maaf, acclaimed actor Naseeruddin Shah offered a critical assessment of Amitabh Bachchan's filmography and acting legacy: "Amitabh Bachchan has not done any great films in his career. I don't think Sholay is a great film from any angle," Shah said.
At that time, Shah's remarks created quite a flutter. The veteran actor was also critical of Rajesh Khanna, calling him a "limited actor".
Big B's fans have disagreed with the critical assessment of the Bollywood megastar. "Amitabh has done several great films. Most recently Piku and Gulabo Sitabo are great films. Silsila is a great film. He is also an incredibly versatile actor. This is extraordinarily harsh by a man who is also a great actor, who was the weakest link in his most recent two appearances - Made in India (in which he was himself and not JRD) and Main Vaapas Aaunga in which I could connect with every character except him," Nikhil Mehra wrote on X.
Others said that Shah is broadly right. "Amitabh became a prisoner of his stardom - most of his movies are ordinary, except a few made by Hrishikesh Mukherjee," wrote columnist Somnath Mukherjee.
