Two versatile actors Naseeruddin Shah and Om Puri have vehemently protested against the use of the term “Bollywood”, saying it was perceived to be “derogatory” and “humiliating”.
Attacking the western media for calling them “Bollywood actors’ they said Indian film industry was not happy with the term as it was perceived to be derogatory and humiliating.
Both the award-winning actors, who would turn 57 this year, were speaking at a function ‘Life and Times in Indian Cinema’ at the Nehru Centre here organised by the UK-based film organisation India-EU Film Initiative, to honour them. Lord Meghnad Desai, renowned economist and film buff, honoured Shah and Puri with Roman Atticus trophies.  The actors said that they hate to be called Bollywood actors. “The term Bollywood was used to mock us by the western press. And it’s just an indication of our own idiocy that we still use it,” said Naseeruddin Shah, winner of several awards.
Om Puri said: “Bollywood they mean Hindi films.  They say ‘Oh those song and dance films’. So it is a derogatory term.”