‘Only our country talks about fashion at Cannes’

After six visits and nine films, Cannes now feels like home for actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who is heading to the Cannes Film Festival for his upcoming film, Manto. This time, however, the actor has his outfits in place as Manish Malhotra has taken care of his clothes for his red carpet appearances.

“Manish is designing my outfits this time. There are three outfits — one for the red carpet and the screening of the film, another one for another red carpet appearance and another casual outfit for an event. This is my sixth visit and nine of my films have been screened there so far. Nandita (Das, director of Manto) and I decided in Cannes in 2013 itself that we will make this film and now, we are here to screen it. This is truly special,” the Babumoshai Bandookbaaz (2017) actor says.

While we are talking about his designer clothes, we also ask him if fashion at the Cannes red carpet is something he takes seriously. “Cannes isn’t a fashion extravaganza, it’s a film festival. It is only here that we give so much importance to fashion and clothes. Everywhere else in the world, they discuss films. Only our country talks about fashion at Cannes. The red carpet is a small but integral part of the event but it is actually about celebrating excellence in cinema. The focus should always be on movies,” he says.

His favourite memory over the years at the festival is when his film Raman Raghav was screened in 2016.

“The film was welcomed and received wonderfully. It was totally unexpected. Back then, we were applauded and given a standing ovation. The reviews and performances too, were compared with other Hollywood films. But unfortunately, it is also my worst memory because when that film released here, it just didn’t work (laughs). Maybe, it was to do with the fact that it was pretty dark for the audiences.”

Nawazuddin also recalls watching Austrian filmmaker, Michael Haneke’s Amour at Cannes in 2012 and his subsequent meeting with him later. “I had gone to watch Michael’s film Amour as it had opened at Cannes. When I saw the film, I was awestruck and had decided that I wanted to meet him but I couldn’t at that point. I am glad though that I was able to fulfil that wish later. I met him in Vienna where he was to deliver a lecture at a drama college. A friend of mine introduced me to him and the meeting was wonderful.”

Cannes is not a fashion extravaganza, it is a film festival. It is only here that we give so much importance to fashion and clothes. Everywhere else in the world, they discuss films. NAWAZUDDIN SIDDIQUI, ACTOR

PHOTO: AALOK SONI/ HT