Guantanamo: Honor Bound to Defend Freedom:

“More resonant and persuasive is the argument articulated by Azmat Begg, Moazzam's dad, a patriotic British subject
who has what seems an eminently reasonable request: Try his son, or release him. "If he is guilty, he should be
punished," he says. "If he is not guilty, he shouldn't be there for a second." Nayyar's polished performance as the
anguished Azmat is the closest the production … comes to giving the audience an emotional touchstone. He seems the
embodiment of helplessness.”
Peter Marks, The Washington Post, November 8, 2005.

“Harsh Nayyar is deeply affecting as the pained, puzzled and eminently reasonable father of long-detained Moazzam
Begg.”
Robert Hurwitt, San Francisco Chronicle, March 28, 2005.

“Harsh Nayyar gives a touching performance as the father of a prisoner.”
The New Yorker, September 13, 2004.

“The tone of Mr. Begg (Harsh Nayyar) … is simply sad, aggrieved and uncomprehending.”
Ben Brantley, The New York Times, August 27, 2004.

“Harsh Nayyar, who plays the father, conveys his anguish and that of his son movingly.”
Howard Kissel, New York Daily News, August 26, 2004.

“Portrayals by Kathleen Chalfant as a cool family solicitor and Harsh Nayyar as Mandvi’s polite yet finally anguished
father are further standouts among the 12-member ensemble.”
Michael Sommers, The Star-Ledger.

“Nayyar is heartbreaking as the concerned but helpless father Mr. Begg.”
William Stevenson, Broadway.com.

“…emotionally moving, a deserving dozen actors perform with unexaggerated intensity and whatever humor can be
squeezed out of horrid circumstances. … and all, regardless of nationality, manage their accents commendably.”
John Simon, New York Magazine.

“…father (Harsh Nayyar) never moves from a chair stage left, but the older man’s agony and despair over his son’s
plight comes across as a whirlwind of confusion.”
Andy Propst, AmericanTheater Web, August 27, 2004.

“Guantanamo is engrossing, motivating docudrama of the highest caliber…. The cast … is precise, sober and
committed.”
David Cote, Time Out New York.

“However, it remains for Mr. Begg (Harsh Nayyar) to most poignantly chronicle the experiences of his increasingly
mentally unstable son.”
Simon Saltzman, CurtainUp.

“Especially effective is Harsh Nayyar playing Mr. Begg.”
Daily Record, August 27,2004.

Homebody/Kabul:

“Harsh Nayyar does beautiful work as Priscilla’s polite and charming Tajik guide, who also writes Esperanto poetry.”
Michael Scott Moore, SF Weekly, May 1-7, 2002.

“Harsh Nayyar is also wonderful as Khwaja, alternately gently chiding Priscilla on her lack of manners and reciting the
Esperanto poetry he wrote in prison.”
Lisa Brostova, East Bay Express, May 1-7, 2002.

“The cast is uniformly excellent, especially Morain, Robinson, Dippold, McKenzie, Nayyar and Antaramian as the
principals.”
Judy Richter, Aisle Say San Francisco.

“Nayyar was a sly, charismatic Khwaja.”
Brad Rosenstein, SFB Guardian.

“Nayyar's nuanced turn as the poet/guide.”
Lex Lonehood, TheaterMania.com

“The supporting cast does some fantastic work in a number of languages. …. Among the stand-outs are Harsh Nayyar
as an eager poet who guides the daughter around Kabul.”
Chad Jones, The Argus, April 26, 2002.

Making Mr. Right:

“The casting by Risa Bramon and Billy Hopkins is a constant source of fun, with memorable supporting performances
from …. Harsh Nayyar as the suave Dr. Ramdas, who fancies himself quite a smoothie.”
Janet Maslin, The New York Times, April 10, 1987.

Comedians:

“Harsh Nayyar as Patel is brilliant. He draws laugh after laugh out of a picture of an Indian family lying about, starving.”
Sy Syna, New York Tribune, April 23, 1983.

Gandhi:

“That face will become unforgettable.”
Candice Bergen, January 1981.

The Promise:

“Marat, played by Kevin Kline, is the brooding dreamer, the builder of bridges who strikes out into the unknown, while
Leonidik, played by Harsh Nayyar, assumes a philosophic domesticity as Lika’s husband.....All three work tremendously
well as an ensemble; they have the ability to get into their roles comfortably.”
Show Business, September 5, 1974.








Audie Award for Audible's production of "Evil Eye" (2020).

The 7th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by The Cast of a Motion Picture "Traffic" (2000).

New York University, Tisch School of the Arts, J.S. Seidman Theatre Award for Excellence in Acting, May 1976. The J.S.
Seidman Theatre Awards consist of five awards to those students of dance, directing, acting, design and drama whose
talent is of the highest order and who best exemplify the spirit of cooperation and sense of the good of the group in their
work at the School of the Arts.