He built an empire. He never raised his voice. Naseeruddin Shah on JRD Tata, the man who carried the weight of a nation’s industrial dream as though it cost him nothing.
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Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah has spoken about his experience portraying industrialist JRD Tata in the newly released streaming series ‘Made in India: A Titan Story’. Shah said that what fascinated him most was not Tata’s stature, but his restraint. He described the industrialist as someone who carried his greatness quietly, almost as a matter of habit.
‘Made in India: A Titan Story’ is a six-part drama that charts the founding and rise of Indian watchmaker Titan. The series is adapted from Vinay Kamath’s book ‘Titan: India’s Most Successful Consumer Brand’. It is set in pre-liberalised India and follows the efforts of Xerxes Desai, the company’s founding managing director, to build a homegrown watch brand under the mentorship of JRD Tata, the longtime chair of the Tata Group.
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The series premiered on Amazon MX Player on June 3, 2026, and received positive reviews for its performances, writing, and portrayal of India’s corporate history.
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Karan Vyas wrote the series. Robbie Grewal directed it. Almighty Motion Pictures produces the show.
Naseeruddin Shah plays JRD Tata, with Jim Sarbh as Xerxes Desai. Vaibhav Tatwawadi, Namita Dubey, Lakshvir Saran, and Kaveri Seth round out the ensemble.
Shah said that JRD Tata was singular in a way that is difficult to articulate. He added that he has played many characters over the years, but portraying JRD came with a huge sense of responsibility because of the legacy he represents.
Shah also noted that JRD Tata had an extraordinary ability to spot potential and nurture it with trust, something he described as increasingly rare.
Shah’s portrayal of JRD Tata emerged as one of the most celebrated performances from the series.
The actor also spoke directly about his experience working alongside Jim Sarbh on the show.
Shah praised Sarbh for his quality of being a good listener. He said that Jim has something that cannot be manufactured. He listens, genuinely and completely. Shah noted that on camera, this quality is rarer than it sounds. He added that Sarbh’s theatre foundation has given him a rigour and intellectual seriousness that translates beautifully on screen. Shah called working with him, without hesitation, always a genuine pleasure.
Jim Sarbh also shared his thoughts on taking on the role of Xerxes Desai.
Sarbh described Xerxes Desai as someone who was quietly rebellious and unafraid to challenge convention. He said the show, at its core, is deeply human. It is about persistence, instinct, and believing in an idea long before anyone else does.
The series is set in 1970s Bombay. It highlights the journey of Xerxes Desai and his team after a Swiss watchmaker insulted JRD Tata. Desai and his team took it as a challenge and created a world-class Indian watch, which they named Titan.
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