Nawazuddin Siddiqui: An emblem of struggle and perseverance
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When I was a first-year student at university, a film called Bajrangi Bhaijaan was released (2015). We learned that the actor who portrayed journalist Chand Nawab in the movie talked to the real-life Chand Nawab before playing the role and struggled greatly with his career.
During that time, in our daily chat at a tea stall, we talked about how to talk about life, career, success, and so many things that, for us, were still unexplored. One thing I remember we were conscious of, which we won't admit now, is that we were very much afraid of the unpredictability of life.
No matter how we perceive it, it is unpredictable and connected to struggle. Today is the birthday of legendary actor Nambardar Nawazuddin Siddiqui, whose life is an example of how life is always unexpected and every wise one should embrace it along with its struggle. Nawaz was born in the family of a Zamindar in Uttar Pradesh, India, in 1974. He was the first person in his family to become interested in acting. He studied chemistry at Gurukul Kangri University and worked as a chemist in Vadodara before moving to Delhi to get a better job.
After watching a play, he became interested in theatre, eventually leading him to the National School of Drama (NSD). After completing his education at NSD, he started looking for roles and worked as an extra in different films.
His first screen appearance was in the movie 'Sarfarosh' (1999), where he acted with Aamir Khan. After that, he worked as a side cast in many films, including Shool (1999), Munna Bhai MBBS (2003), and Bypass (2003).
He used to get from 1000 to 1500 rupees for each side role.
Sometimes, that also wouldn't happen. He had this experience once where he was told that he would be given 1000 rupees for a side role. He played the role but didn't get the money. Nawaz smiled and said, 'If you can't give the money, let me have lunch with you.'
Rejection was a regular happening in his career at that time. In an interview with Film Companion, Nawaz said once he was rejected by a director who told him that Nawaz's skin was so dark that he would need two more lights to make him look brighter.
The meeting with Anurag Kashyap at Mumbai Railway Station brought a giant leap in his career. With the initial conversation, Anurag instantly became aware of his acting potential. Later, their chemistry deepened when Anurag cast him in his film Black Friday (2004).
His first lead role was in Prashant Bhargava's Patang: The Kite (2012). Although Nawaz claims his first lead role was 'Miss Lovely,' shot in 2010, it was leased in 2014.
After that, Nawaz didn't have to look backward. He starred in Gangs of Wasseypur (2012), Lunchbox (2013), Kick (2014), Badlapur (2015), Manjhi: The Mountain Man (2015), BajrangiBhaijan (2015), Raman Raghav (2016), Manto (2019), Sacred Games Tv Series (2018-19) and the list goes on and on.
Nawaz is a big fan of Dilip Kumar, who pioneered method acting in India. It is an acting process where the actor needs to live the character's life in the script to get into the character for believability.
Nawaz went to his village to talk to people whom he thought could be similar to the character 'Faizal Khan of Gangs of Wasseypur'; he got so involved in the character of an inspector in 'Kahani' (2012) that one woman wanted to meet him after watching the film.
When Nawaz met her, she was disappointed that Nawaz looked so different in real life from the inspector who was in Kahani (2012).
He became hospitalized while shooting 'Raman Raghav' (2012). Even in his bed, he murmured the dialogues of Raman Raghav (2012).
His dedication to his craft makes us ask how that is possible. The answer is the same perseverance that made him survive and not give up during his struggle.