Nawazuddin Siddiqui: Nowadays, even the smallest of actors demand a vanity van
Nawazuddin Siddiqui was seen recently in ZEE5’s murder-mystery Rautu Ka Raaz, where he played the role of a cop investigating a murder in a sleepy hill town. The film is directed by Anand Surapur, who had previously helmed The Fakir of Venice (2009), and Nawazuddin recalled giving auditions for the film. He had known Anand for a long time, having worked with him on some music videos. So, when he was approached with the script of Rautu Ka Raaz, what struck Nawazuddin was the slowness embedded in it. “It was like a leisurely composed murder-mystery set in a village where no crime has happened,” he says.
We speak to the acclaimed actor on bringing nuance to the cop characters in his films, why he has lost hope from Bollywood and of course, Gangs of Wasseypur:
Excerpts
Nawaz, you have played cop characters before, be it in Raees (2017) or Raat Akeli Hai (2020). How do you make it seem different in each film?
When I play a cop, the uniform remains the same, but the person behind it is entirely different. His background is different, his childhood is different, his past is different, his thought process is different. That's why all the characters are distinct from one another. While playing these roles, I never go for their popular perception. Whenever I imagine a character, I always take real-life references. I never take reference from other films to play my character. In Rautu Ka Raaz, my character stays in the mountains, then I think of how people in the mountains live. What would be their pace of existing? So, in that respect, to break the perception of how a cop is traditionally played, I think this is a good experiment.
Your last three films were Saindhav, Haddi (2023), and Tiku Weds Shiru (2023) and they were entirely different from each other. Has your method of selecting films changed in the past few years?
I believe that as an actor, you are always known for your choices. You are not known for your hits or flops. In the 60s-70s as well, there were some who were doing many experiments through their work like Guru Dutt and Balraj Sahni. But there were many stars too whom everyone liked. But even at that time, some were experimenting and their choices were very different. We still remember them today. So, I think the real talent lies in your choice. It's important to experiment to discover something. Even if you fail sometimes, it's okay.
Your filmography has a fair share of dark roles and lighter comedy roles. Which ones do you enjoy doing more?
I don't have any preference or liking to play a particular role. I experiment with comedy and I enjoy doing that. If you play only one kind of role, you tend to get bored, and it becomes a routine job. However, doing different type of roles is like taking up new challenges.
You will complete 25 years in the industry this year since your first appearance in Sarfarosh in 1999. What changes have you observed in yourself in these past years in terms of being an actor and a person?
There have been many changes. Earlier, I wanted to put everything in my performance. I wanted to show my skills to everyone to let them know what I have. But now, nothing of that sort has remained within. It’s rather the opposite. I just think of what not to do while performing. I try to do less and create more boundaries around my performance.
So, is there something in the popular understanding of acting that you would never want to do?
In terms of acting, I don’t like to make my performances seem indulgent. Like doing a lot for a small scene. Other than that, there is nothing that I would never do. I want to do work in all kinds of films, be it commercial or arthouse. Because as an actor, commercial films are worthy experiments for me to see how I can be comfortable in mainstream sensibilities.
2024 also marks 12 years since the release of Gangs of Wasseypur (2012). How do you look back on the experience of doing that film?
It was an amazing experience. Everyone's energy was unparalleled. You won’t believe it, but around 35-40 actors used to sit in one small vanity van. Today, even the smallest of actors demand a separate vanity van and everything. But at that time, there was such an atmosphere that all the male and female actors were sitting in the same place. We used to sit together and have conversations about films, acting and everything. But today, when I go on set, everyone is busy talking on the phone in their own vanity van. Sometimes, a film is made because of the surrounding environment. I think Gangs of Wasseypur is a film that got made because of the conditions around.
In a recent interview, you spoke about how you don’t have any hope left from Bollywood. Why do you feel so?
I have more hope for directors who have their own independent thoughts. Director Prakash Jha had said somewhere that when people sit in a corporate house, they don't have that much experience with cinema. They only think of spending money and getting good returns. But independent and smaller producers are involved in a film right from the script stage and take part in discussions on making it better. I have hope from such people who are passionate about cinema, whether it is a producer, a corporate house, or anyone else. If there is no passion, there is no cinema.