Naseeruddin Shah on Esmayeel Shroff: He would sing praises of me even before I met him - Exclusive

Esmayeel Shroff who passed away on October 26 was very close to the veteran actor Raaj Kumar who was known to be very whimsical. But Naseeruddin Shah who had a chance to work with Raaj Kumar in 'Police Public' says the stories of Raaj Kumar’s eccentricity were all fabricated by the publicists.
Recalling his two-film association with Esmayeel Shroff Naseer says, “Apparently he would sing my praises to people before I worked with him.I was cast in 'Dil Aakhir Dil Hai' (1982) opposite Raakhee Gulzar, only because Rishi Kapoor backed out and Esmayeel claimed I could in his words, do anything. He apparently changed his mind after the film because I was such a disaster, as was the film.”
Naseer says 'Police Public' which Esmayeel Shroff directed eight years later was a better experience. “I found Mr Raaj Kumar the most interesting star I’ve ever met, the only one who wouldn’t talk about himself all the time.”
Esmayeel and Raaj Kumar worked in four films together 'Bulundi' (1981), 'Surya' (1989), 'Police Public' (1990) and 'God & Gun' (1995) which was Raaj Kumar’s last film before his death.
Naseer says he was the odd one out during the shooting of 'Police Public'. “Raaj Kumar and Esmayeel shared a close bond and I was lucky I could squeeze myself between the two!”