DONE PLAYING SECOND FIDDLE, SAYS NAWAZUDDIN SIDDIQUI

Nawazuddin Siddiqui says he is done playing second fiddle and now wants to prove he is capable enough to shoulder a film alone

Having risen from an actor who began his career with small bits in various films, Nawazuddin Siddiqui has clearly reached a point where he has shown not only his versatility, but also the ability to hold films on his own. The actor, who will be seen playing writer Saadat Hasan Manto and late Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray in separate films, says he’s done with cameos.

No more cameos

Manto, which featured in the Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard section, Nawazuddin was all praise for the film’s director Nandita Das’ “impeccable research”. He shies away from naming a favourite director or even sharing his wish list. “If I take names, the others will feel bad about it. As an actor, I only look at stories, script and most importantly my character in the film. There is also a selfishness that works and I think it’s quite normal that I look for characters that will challenge me and push me to the limits,” Nawazuddin said.

He is clear that there is no room for any more cameo appearances for him. “No, I will not do it anymore (laughs). It’s as simple as that, why will I do them? I am done with my quota of small roles,” he said.

Being a producer

Nawazuddin is also venturing into production, taking on projects such as Manto as a co-producer. “There are some upcoming films that I am co-producing as well. My brother is very much into this doing the scouting for me. I definitely want to produce films as well,” he said.

He rules out exploring foreign shores for roles, saying he is content with India and the diversity of roles he is getting to do. “For the time being, I am satisfied that all my directors in India are giving me characters that are pretty challenging and I am happy doing those. Just for the sake of a branding that I am an international star, I would not do that. How many films in the world are like Manto? Very few. So, I have no such predetermined affiliation for international projects. I am proud of Nandita and a film like this is no way less than any international film.”

Wrong conception

On him getting typecast, Nawazuddin said, “I think it’s completely a wrong conception. If I am doing (playing) Bal Thackeray and Manto at the same time, how can one say that I am typecast? The Bollywood heroes are typecast, they do the same thing all their life and they are never asked these questions. Now the films made in India are allowing actors like us to step in the shoes of lead characters and that makes us versatile. So, those who are still doing this (stretches his hand) are typecast, not me.”

The prepping

On his own preparation for the role, he said he had already read Manto’s stories and had also enacted one of them, which made it easier for him to cast himself in the role. “I am not a writer, so I can only behave like a writer...It’s not possible to be a writer. What I could do was create an impression of a writer on-screen. I have tried to that. I have always tried to portray the ground reality of a character whenever I acted. Manto’s writing in itself is depiction of truth in every form and Nandita has always told us to exercise that in our performances. Not only had I, but each one of us tried not to be a cliche when portraying their parts in the film. I can’t specifically say one I like all the stories of Manto. “I read them and I love them. I had done ‘Toba Tek Singh’ maybe twenty years back, so I relate to it. Otherwise, stories like Khol Do, Kali Salwar or Thanda Gosht

are all my favourites.”