21 Years After ‘Mohra’, Naseer Goes Blind Again For ‘Welcome Back’

It was 21 years back when Naseeruddin Shah played the role of a blind and conniving businessman. The film was Mohra (1994) and Naseer was quite convincing as a blind man in the Akshay Kumar–Suniel Shetty starrer, before it was revealed in the pre-climax that it was all an act. Well, that’s not the case in Anil Kapoor–John Abraham–Nana Patekar starrer Welcome Back where Naseer is shown blind throughout.

"Yes, Naseerji has gone blind again after more than 20 years, and while in Mohra it was a part of a shrewd act, things are much lighter in Welcome Back," informs our source, "Since this is an out and out action comedy by Anees Bazmee, even Naseer is joining the fun. Though his part is that of a deadly don, he brings in a lot of laughs with his blind antics."

Now that’s quite a contrast not just from the dramatic Mohra but also a sensitive Sparsh (1980) in which Naseeruddin Shah not just played a blind man with aplomb but also won a National Award for the Best Actor.

"Of course, no one is aspiring for a National award here," quips our source, "It is all meant to be a humorous affair. As a matter of fact, the character played by him in particular throws logic out of the window. At one or two places, you may think that there is no logic in what he is doing, considering the fact that he is blind. However, he does it all with so much conviction that you can’t help but break into a chuckle. Sometimes you have to let go of logic as long as people are having fun."

No wonder, after playing an over the top Neelanand Baba in Dharam Sankat Mein and a grumpy old man Ferdie in Finding Fanny, Naseer is willing to get into a mode of suspension of disbelief.

"Yeh alag tarah ki film hai toh acting bhi alag tareeke ki hi hogi," says Anees Bazmee, "In Sparsh, he was very serious as the film carried the context ki bhai, ek andhe aadmi ki kya kya majboori hoti hai. Here in Welcome Back there is no such majboori. As this deadly don Wanted Bhai, he is so smart. So much so that even those with eyes can get amazed with how he moves with so much style and elegance. In fact despite being blind, he goes on to establish and maintain this big empire. His act brings in so much comedy and all credit to him for bringing on another level of acting."

We would like to see how it plays on screen when the film releases all over on 4th September.