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A scheduled poetry and storytelling event featuring renowned actor Naseeruddin Shah, organized in collaboration with the Urdu Department of Mumbai University, has been called off. Shah claims he was unexpectedly 'disinvited' just before the event, which was set for February 1.

The head of the Urdu Department initially suggested that Shah had chosen to withdraw from the event. However, he later indicated that the Bazm-e-Ahbab Foundation, the co-organizers, might have been responsible for the cancellation, as reported by a local media outlet.

A spokesperson for the Bazm-e-Ahbab Foundation refrained from commenting on the situation regarding Shah's participation.

The event, titled Preet Nagar, was intended to celebrate the Urdu language and showcase works from notable poets like Sahir Ludhianvi and Faiz Ahmed Faiz at the university's Kalina campus.

Shah stated that he was informed late on January 31 about the cancellation via an email from Ghazal Sheikh, who had been in touch with him regarding the event.

In a recent opinion piece, Shah expressed his disappointment, noting that the university did not offer any explanation or apology for the cancellation. He mentioned that a university official accused him of making statements 'against the country,' which he firmly denied.

Shah reflected on the changing atmosphere in the country, stating, 'This is not the country I grew up in and was taught to love.' He criticized the current climate of censorship and surveillance.

Initially, Abdullah Imtiaz, the head of the Urdu Department, claimed that Shah had canceled the event, attributing the misinformation to a reporter from Malegaon. However, after a phone conversation with Shah, Imtiaz later acknowledged that the co-organizers were responsible for the cancellation.

A representative from the Bazm-e-Ahbab Foundation, when approached for clarification, chose to focus on the other events that successfully took place during the festival, rather than the one that was canceled.