Archive · 11 Oct 2026
Naseeruddin Shah to Portray Salman Rushdie in ‘27 Seconds’
A new play called “27 Seconds” will tell part of Salman Rushdie’s story.
Naseeruddin Shah will play Rushdie.
The play is based on Rushdie’s 2024 memoir about a knife attack on him in New York State.
The attack happened on August 12, 2022, and lasted 27 seconds, according to the account behind the play’s title.
Rushdie lost sight in his right eye.
The play’s lines will come directly from the memoir.
Malaika Choudhury will play Rushdie’s wife, Rachel Eliza Griffiths.
Rushdie has said he admires Shah’s acting.
Naseeruddin Shah is set to portray Salman Rushdie in the stage production “27 Seconds.”
Motley Productions is presenting the play, based entirely on Rushdie’s 2024 memoir, “Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder.”
The memoir recounts the August 12, 2022, knife attack on Rushdie in New York State.
The title refers to the reported 27-second attack, which left Rushdie permanently blind in his right eye.
Malaika Choudhury will portray Rushdie’s wife, Rachel Eliza Griffiths; Shah co-directs with Arghya Lahiri.
- Who
- Naseeruddin Shah will portray Salman Rushdie; Malaika Choudhury will play Rachel Eliza Griffiths.
- What
- A stage adaptation titled “27 Seconds” will draw entirely on Rushdie’s memoir.
- When
- The memoir recounts the attack on August 12, 2022; no production date is stated.
- Where
- The attack took place in New York State; the play’s venue is not stated.
- Why
- The play adapts Rushdie’s account of the attack, using words taken directly from his memoir.
Faithful adaptation
Production details
Use of Rushdie’s memoir
Faithful adaptation
The play uses only words written in the memoir, with every spoken line taken directly from the book.
Production details
No opposing view is reported; the article describes the production’s approach as adhering strictly to the text.
Rushdie’s response
Faithful adaptation
Rushdie endorsed the project and said he has long admired Shah’s craft.
Production details
No criticism or contrasting response to the project is reported.
- Production
- “27 Seconds,” presented by Motley Productions
- Lead actor
- Naseeruddin Shah as Salman Rushdie
- Source material
- Rushdie’s 2024 memoir, “Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder”
- Attack date
- August 12, 2022
- Attack location
- New York State
- Title reference
- The attack lasted 27 seconds
- Co-directors
- Naseeruddin Shah and Arghya Lahiri
- Additional cast
- Malaika Choudhury as Rachel Eliza Griffiths