Naseeruddin Shah was born on July 20, 1950, in the town of Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, into the Nawab family
Shah did his studies at St. Anselm’s Ajmer and St Joseph’s College, Nainital. He graduated with a degree in art from Aligarh Muslim University in 1971 and attended the National School of Drama in Delhi
Shah has starred in films such as Nishant, Aakrosh, Sparsh, Mirch Masala, Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Ata Hai, Trikal, Bhavani Bhavai, Junoon, Mandi, Mohan Joshi Hazir Ho
Shah started working in a regular Bollywood movie with the 1980 film Hum Paanch. In 1982, he starred in the film Dil Aakhir Dil Hai directed by Ismail Shroff, about Rakhee.
He has acted in many Bollywood films with many stars, such as Ghulami (1985), Tridev (1989) Vishwatma (1992). In 1994, he acted as a villain in Mohra, his 100th film as an actor.
Shah made his first Pakistani film Khuda Ke Liye by Shoaib Mansoor, in which he played a short cameo.
Shah has sung with his theatre group in places like New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Lahore. He directed plays by Lavender Kumar, Ismat Chughtai, and Saadat Hasan Manto.
In 1977, Shah, Tom Alter, and Benjamin Gilani formed a theater group called Motley Productions. Their first play was Samuel Beckett’s Waiting Godot, which was performed at the British Theatre on July 29, 1979.