INDIA. Legendary actor Naseeruddin Shah’s nephew, Major Mohommed Ali Shah, a motivational speaker / defense and strategic expert on TV panels, has portrayed the role of a “Sutradhar” in the National award winning film maker Tigmanshu Dhulia’s latest film “Yaara”. A remake of 2011 French movie “Gang Story”, Yaara is set in two periods – 1970s and the present day. This film stars Vidyut Jamwal, Shruti Hasan, Amit Sadh, Vijay Verma, Kenny Basumatary and Major Mohommed Ali Shah in key roles.
Read A Love Letter To Cinema’s Greatest Perfectionist
Tigmanshu Dhulia was impressed by Major Mohommed Ali Shah’s presence on screen in Vishal Bhardwaj’s Haider which won 5 National Awards. He played an Indian Army Major in the film during a crucial scene, but was quite unrecognizable. It will be interesting to watch him in a meaty role in the Yaara. The film is out on ZEE5.
Watch the scene from Haider here
As one can see in the two pictures, the movie shows the transformation of Ali into the character of Jasjit Singh, a Sikh gentleman. The army veteran turned IIM Graduate turned CEO devoted more than two and a half years of his life completely towards intense preparation for this role and totally immersed himself into the character.
He calls his role in the film his dream role since this role gives him a chance to display his talent as an actor perfectly! He plays the part of a character which is very contrary to his personality. He plays this Sikh police officer who ages over two decades in the film.
While preparing for his part in Yaara, Ali grew his hair for real over a long time and learnt to tie a turban himself, gave up smoking completely, read the Shri Gurugranth Sahab Ji, and spent a month in the Golden Temple doing seva.
Major Mohommed Ali Shah is also a sought after International TEDx speaker. Of late, he has been continuously working and delivering back to back motivational sessions on dealing with the coronavirus situation to millions across the globe which has uplifted many people in their trying times!.
He is also an alumnus of the prestigious IIM Calcutta and has done theatre with thespians such as Tom Alter and Naseeruddin Shah (who incidentally is his father’s younger brother). His father, Lt. Gen. Zameer Uddin Shah (Retd.), has served as the Deputy Chief of the Army Staff and also is the former Vice Chancellor of The Aligarh Muslim University and is currently the Pro Chancellor of the Prestigious USTM and has been a member of the board of Welhams Boys’ school and IIM Lucknow.
Major Ali joined the Short Service Commission scheme in the Indian Army to train as a “Commando” and was posted at the Indo – Pak border at the line of control as a young Lieutenant. He was awarded a commendation card for his exceptional and meritorious service to the nation for being unmindful of his own personal safety and going beyond the call of duty while serving with the Assam Rifles in the North East. He served as ADC to GOC 3 Corps in the North East and also speaks fluent Nagamese.
Major Mohommed Ali Shah has also acted in FTII alumnus Shriram Raghavan’s “Agent Vinod” apart from from several other prestigious film awards. He has also acted in acclaimed filmmaker Jahnu Baruah’s “Broken Window” produced by Priyanka Chopra. He tweets @MajorAliShah.
