The making of a Madboy
Imaad Shah, musician, actor, curl boss and soon-to-be filmmaker, is tripping on Libyan disco, reading up on Delhi’s history, plugged in to nerdy podcasts and loves loves loves a little-known fish from Goa. Could these be your favourites too?
Which Imaad Shah do you know? The 34-year-old actor who made his debut in Yun Hota To Kya Hota (2006), appeared in a clutch of indie films, played the nice guy friend Ron in Bombay Begums (2021), and the dreamy Roman in Made in Heaven 2 (2023)?
The other half of Madboy/mink, the funk/ disco act he formed with Saba Azad in 2012, and who has a separate acoustic career and performs solo too?
The son of acting stalwarts Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah, who’s worked on productions of Katha Collage, Waiting for Godot, By George and Manto Ismat Haazir Hai?
The filmmaker-in-waiting, whose untitled short film has been selected for NFDC Film Bazaar’s Work in Progress Lab?
Or as someone whose curls have simply defied gravity through it all?
If it seems like a lot, it’s only because Shah sees them as extensions of the same idea. “For me, at the end of the day, a successful person is someone who is fulfilling their own creative requirements, someone who has created a life in which they can express themselves the way they want, be it in art, food or running a business. And they are doing it freely,” Shah says.
Unsurprisingly, his interests include everything from Bosnian history and Libyan disco to Goan chonak fry and horror comedy. Here are his favs.
Five books you’ve liked recently.
The Last Mughal (2006) by William Dalrymple. “It’s an incredible portrait of Delhi on the eve of the First War of Independence in 1857. Poetry, Corporate Greed, Old Delhi, Ghalib – it has everything”.
Delhi Ki Aakhri Shama (1986) by Mirza Farhatullah Baig. “A fictionalised account of the last mushaaira under the patronage of Bahadur Shah Zafar. A satire and a great account of 1850s Del h i , offering a sense of the language and culture of the time.” Midnight Freeway (2021) by Vivaan Shah. “Hard-boiled noir. A detective story set in contemporary Mumbai. Entertaining, gripping and consistently funny.”
Byculla to Bangkok (2014) by S Hussain Zaidi. “It’s the sequel to Dongri to Dubai. Hard to put down.”
Parivarnama (2022) by Shehla Hashmi
Grewal. “A family history intertwined with the story of Delhi from when it was called Shahjahanabad. It follows one Muslim family’s commitment to India’s freedom and to progressive and humane ideals.”
Five shows you’ve binged on.
I am a Virgo (2023).“It’s funny, sarcastic, political. I love Boots Riley’s work andd would recommend his film ‘Sorry to Botherr You’ as well.”
Tabbar (2021). “Well acted, gripping,, tense, great buildup.”
Deadloch (2023). “Dark comedy-mystery is one of my favourite genres. This is another testament to how amazing Australian filmmaking is.”
The Great (2020). “Another political satire. The tale of Catherine the Great is set in Russia, but with the actors talking in British English.”
Rise of Empires: Ottoman (2020). “Most of my reading these days is about the rise and fall of empires. The series about the Ottomans was one of the most interesting.”
Five movies you’ve enjoyed.
Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam (2023). A man falls asleep on a bus and wakes up believing he’s somebody else. “Lijo Jose Pelliserry is such an original director. The characters, the situations, the acting, the writing, all so goood.”
El Conde(2023)). “A horror comedy annd a political satiree that shows thee Chilean dictator Pinochet as a vampire. Angryy and funny at thee same time.”
Naseem (1995). “A beautiful film from one my favourite directors, Saeed Mirza, and featuring a great performance by Kaifi Azmi. As relevant as ever and one out of a very short list of Hindi films with decent Muslim representation.”
No Bears (2022). “A Jafar Panahi film about two parallel love stories unfolding in the interiors of Iran. It’s realistically paced and yet very gripping.” Death in Sarajevo (2016). “Moments from Bosnian history, including the 1990s genocide, told through a very gripping, high stakes story.”
Five foods you’re always craving.
Kulcha Nihari. “Particularly from Mubeen’s in Lucknow. Those flaky kulchas are unlike any other roti.”
Chonak fry. “One of my favourite fish, mostly available in Goa and a few obscure Malvani joints in Mumbai.”
My deceased Dadi Ammi’s kheema samosas. “Takes me back to childhood.”
Undhiyu. “A Gujarati dish made of winter vegetables. Again closely connected to my heritage.” Tamil Nadu’s biryanis. “Every part of our country has its own biryani. In my opinion, these are the best.”
Five artists you’re listening to.
Ahmed Fakroun. “Libn Disco. It’s unbeeevably funky. asteful, aesthetic nd whenever I lay any of it durng DJ sets, people lose it on the dance floor.”
Thelonious Monk. He was a pure legend. His music is the Bible of jazz for me.”
Zohrabai Ambalewali. “The playback singer from the ’30s and ’40s. Her voice makes me feel things.”
Nermin Ni a z i .
“This Pakistani British Disco / New Wave artist gets me nostalgic.”
Curtis Mayfield.
“Guitar player, poet and singer. He used his songs to advocate civil rights for black people and all marginalised people. One of the icons of the ’70s.”
Five Insta handles you’re following.
Middle East Eye @Middleeasteye. “It’s independent journalism from the Middle East and North Africa which has played a very important role reporting from Gaza.”
Masalalab @_Masalalab. “Krish Ashok debunks a lot of pseudoscience and hearsay about food.”
Fa atima Khan @Fati.amma. “One of the best jjournalists in the country right now.”
Jazziesillona @jazziesillona. “A cineatographer shooting Hong Kong, documenting great jazz music and sharing olour-grading tips.”
Mohsin Qureshi @Chef_mohin_qureshi. “I love that she shares ccipes and talks about the history of odd.”