Nawazuddin Siddiqui is one of the finest actors of his generation, known for his intense performances in films like Gangs of Wasseypur (2012), The Lunchbox (2013), Manjhi (2015), Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015), Raman Raghav 2.0 (2016), Manto (2018), and Sacred Games (2018).
Early Life of Nawazuddin Siddiqui
Nawazuddin Siddiqui was born on May 19, 1974, in Budhana, a small town in Uttar Pradesh, India. Siddiqui grew up in a family of farmers. His father, Nawabuddin Siddiqui, worked as a farmer and operated a wood-cutting machine. His mother, Mehroonisa, managed the household. Nawazuddin, the eldest of nine siblings, had seven brothers and two sisters. Despite the rural setting and the financial constraints, he nurtured a dream that seemed distant for a boy from Budhana.
Siddiqui completed his schooling at B.S.S. Inter College in Budhana. He excelled in science and pursued a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry at Gurukul Kangri University in Haridwar. During college, he participated in declamation, painting, and drama competitions. After graduating, he worked as a chemist in Vadodara for a year. The job bored him, so he moved to Delhi to explore new paths. He took up a watchman job while watching plays. Nawazuddin joined the Sakshi Theatre Group, working with actors like Manoj Bajpayee and Saurabh Shukla. In one play, Uljhan, he stood still as a tree for two hours just to share the stage with Bajpayee.
He enrolled at the National School of Drama (NSD) in New Delhi, graduating in 1996. NSD honed his acting skills and gave him confidence. In 1999, he moved to Mumbai to chase his Bollywood dreams.
Debut and Early Career
His debut came with a small role as a criminal in Sarfarosh (1999), starring Aamir Khan. Nawazuddin struggled for years, taking minor roles in films like Shool (1999) and Jungle (2000). He tried television but found little success. Between 2002 and 2005, he faced severe financial hardship. He shared a flat with four others, surviving by conducting acting workshops. In 2004, unable to pay rent, he moved in with an NSD senior in Goregaon, cooking meals in exchange for a place to stay.
In his intial days he played minor roles in films like “Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. (2003),” “Aaja Nachle (2007),” and “Manorama Six Feet Under (2007).” He first came in prominence for his role in the critically acclaimed performance in Anurag Kashyap’s “Black Friday (2007).” In the film, he played Asgar Mukadam, a conspirator in the 1993 Bombay bombings. His intense performance earned critical notice.
He followed it by small but critical roles in films like Firaaq (2009), New York (2009), and Dev. D (2009). Anusha Rizvi’s Peepli Live (2010) was a big turning point in his career. He portrayed Rakesh, an ill feted struggling journalist, with subtle realism. The film, produced by Aamir Khan, tackled rural issues and premiered at Sundance Film Festival.
The critical success of Peepli Live led to him getting films like Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Paan Singh Tomar (2012), Chittagong (2012), Ashim Ahluwalia’s Miss Lovely (2012), and Reema Kagti’s Talaash (2012).
The Arrival of Nawazuddin Siddiqui
Gangs of Wasseypur (2012), a two-part crime epic by Kashyap, made Nawazuddin a household name. He played Faizal Khan, a volatile gangster. His transformation from a timid son to a ruthless leader, marked by a distinct accent and gaudy style, left audiences in awe. The same year he acted in Sujoy Ghosh’s thriller Kahaani along with Vidya Balan, Parambrata Chatterjee, Indraneil Sengupta, and Saswata Chatterjee. The Lunchbox (2013) showcased his softer side. As Shaikh, a cheerful office worker, he formed a bond with Irrfan Khan’s character. The film premiered at Cannes, earning him a Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award.
In 2015, he starred in Kick with Salman Khan, followed by the critically acclaimed roles of Chand Nawab in Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Laik in Badlapur, and Dashrath Manji in Manjhi: The Mountain Man. In Raman Raghav 2.0 (2016), Nawazuddin portrayed a psychopathic killer. His chilling performance, especially in scenes of cold-blooded murder, won him the Fancine Malaga Award for Best Actor. He continues to do exceptional work, such as Raees (2017), Mom (2017), and Babumoshai Bandookbaaz (2017).
Critical Acclaim
In 2018, he portrayed the legendary writer Saadat Hasan Manto in Nandita Das’s Manto (2018). He received widespread praise for bringing the complex character to life with nuance and depth. Nawazuddin captured Manto’s defiance and pain, earning the Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Actor.
In 2018, Nawaz played the role of Ganesh Gaitonde in Netflix’s neo-noir crime thriller “Sacred Games,” directed by Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane, and Neeraj Ghaywan. The series became one of the most successful and celebrated web series, which comes from India. Even legendary author Paulo Coelho has recommended Sacred Games to his Twitter followers, calling it “one of the best series on Netflix with the great actor Nawazuddin.”.
He then starred as Bala Thackeray in his biopic “Thackeray (2019),” Ritesh Batra’s “Photograph (2019) opposite Sanya Malhotra,” Honey Trehan’s thriller “Raat Akeli Hai (2020),” Netflix’s “Serious Men (2020),” Bangladeshi film “No Land’s Man (2021),” “Heropanti 2 (2022),” Sudhir Mishra’s “Afwaah (2023),” “Haddi (2023),”
Nawazuddin Siddiqui – The Actor
Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s acting method relies on observation and immersion. He draws from real-life experiences, often recalling people from Budhana or his struggling days. His role as Shaikh in The Lunchbox mirrored his former roommate Mukesh Bhatt’s cheerful greetings. Nawazuddin avoids over-preparation, favoring spontaneity. He internalizes characters through their environment and backstory. For Manto, he read the writer’s works extensively to grasp his mindset. In Raman Raghav 2.0, his intense immersion led to health issues. Doctors hospitalized him after he fainted on set, warning him to detach from the character.
Nawazuddin learned the “less is more” approach from Irrfan Khan. He uses minimal dialogue, relying on expressions and body language. His calm, reserved delivery became a signature. In Gangs of Wasseypur, his subtle shift in posture and tone conveyed Faizal’s growth. Nawazuddin often takes on unconventional roles, experimenting with looks and dialects. He describes his performance in Miss Lovely as his most realistic, showcasing his ability to adapt across genres.
Awards and Accolades
In 2012, he won the National Film Award’s Special Jury Award for Gangs of Wasseypur and Dekh Indian Circus. The Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award came in 2013 for The Lunchbox. He earned the Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Actor for Manto in 2018.
Sacred Games brought him global fame, earning two Emmy nominations. Nawazuddin received the Lesley Ho Asian Film Talent Award at the Singapore International Film Festival for the series. Forbes India named him among the “100 Most Influential People in India” in 2012.
Personal Life
After his relationship with his longterm girlfriend, Anjana Kishor Pandey, ended in 2007, Siddiqui briefly married a woman named “Sheeba.” After his divorce from Sheeba, he married Anjana, who changed her name to “Aalia” after marriage. They have two children: a daughter, Shora, and a son, Yaani, born on Nawazuddin’s 41st birthday. Their marriage was rocky from sometime, and both are living separately. In May 2020, Aaliya announced her intent to divorce, citing a decade of issues.
The couple finalized their divorce in 2023. Nawazuddin had a brief relationship with actress Niharika Singh during Miss Lovely, unaware she didn’t know about his marriage. He lives in Mumbai’s Yari Road with his brother Shamas Nawab Siddiqui, a director. When not filming, Nawazuddin Siddiqui spends time farming in Budhana, where he introduced modern irrigation techniques to help local farmers.
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