Nawazuddin Siddiqui (; born 19 May 1974) is an Indian actor known for his work in Hindi cinema. He is an alumnus of the National School of Drama. Siddiqui’s feature film debut was alongside director Prashant Bhargava in Patang (2012), and his performance was appreciated by cinema critic Roger Ebert. He also gained international recognition for his work with director Anurag Kashyap in Black Friday (2007), the Gangs of Wasseypur (2012), duology and Raman Raghav 2.0.
Siddiqui is best known for his roles in The Lunchbox (2013), Manto (2018), and Raman Raghav 2.0. He is the only actor in the world to have 8 films officially selected and screened at the Cannes Film Festival.
The actor continues to take time out from his filming schedule to farm in his native Uttar Pradesh. He has starred in two Emmy-nominated series, Sacred Games (2019) and the British McMafia.
Early life
Siddiqui was born on 19 May 1974 in Budhana, a small town in Muzaffarnagar district, Uttar Pradesh, India, into a zamindari Muslim family of Lambardars. He is the eldest of eight siblings. He spent most of his youth in Uttarakhand.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in chemistry from Gurukul Kangri Vishwavidyalaya, Haridwar. Following this, he worked as a chemist in Vadodara for a year, before leaving for Delhi in search of a new job. Once in Delhi, he was instantly drawn to acting after watching a play. In pursuit of securing admission to the National School of Drama (NSD) in New Delhi, he acted in over ten plays with a group of friends, including one in Dehradun, to fulfil one of the criteria for admission.
Career
Siddiqui went to the National School of Drama in New Delhi. After graduating in 1999, he moved to Mumbai.
He made his Bollywood debut in the year 1999 with a small role in the Aamir Khan starrer Sarfarosh. He then appeared in Ram Gopal Varma’s 1999 film Shool and the 2000 film Jungle, as well as Rajkumar Hirani’s Munnabhai MBBS (2003). After moving to Mumbai, he tried to get work in television serials, but did not achieve much success. He did a short film, The Bypass, in 2003, where he appeared with Irrfan Khan. Beyond that, between 2002 and 2005, he was largely out of work and lived in a flat that he shared with four other people, surviving by conducting occasional acting workshops. In 2004, which was one of the worst years of his struggle, Siddiqui couldn’t pay rent. He asked an NSD senior if he could stay with him. The senior allowed him to share his apartment in Goregaon suburb if he was willing to cook meals for him.
Between 2004 and 2007, Siddiqui had a few minor roles, including in the film Black Friday, which came out in 2007 and was a nominee for the Golden Leopard. In 2009, he appeared in a cameo role in the song “Emotional Atyachar” in the movie Dev D, playing the role of Rangila. He performed a duet with Rasila (known together as Patna ke Presley). In the same year, he appeared in New York. However, it was his role of a journalist in Anusha Rizvi’s 2010 film Peepli Live, that first got him wide recognition as an actor. In 2012, he appeared in Prashant Bhargava’s Patang: The Kite, which premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival and the Tribeca Film Festival. Siddiqui’s performance was praised by film critic Roger Ebert, who stated that the role “transformed his acting style” and he awarded the actor the ‘Thumbsup Trophy’. The film was subsequently released in the U.S. and Canada, and garnered much attention with rave reviews from The New York Times.
Siddiqui then appeared in the 2012 film Kahaani, in which he played the archetypal short-tempered intelligence officer Khan. Anurag Kashyap’s gangster epic Gangs of Wasseypur followed, which furthered the actor’s fame. He played his first primary role as Sonu Duggal in Ashim Ahluwalia’s Miss Lovely, which premiered at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival, a role Siddiqui describes as his “most real performance so far”. Siddiqui then followed this with the sequel to Gangs of Wasseypur. In 2013, he played the lead role in the horror flick Aatma. The Lunchbox premiered as part of the International Critics’ Week at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival and won him multiple awards. He appeared in Aamir Khan’s 2012 release Talash. In 2014, he played the lead antagonist Shiv Gajra in the blockbuster Kick.
In 2015, Siddiqui’s films Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Manjhi – The Mountain Man were released, and he was praised for his roles. He received the Special Jury Award at the 2012 National Film Awards and the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2013. His work in Raman Raghav 2.0 in 2016 won him the Fancine Malaga Award in Spain and in the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, both in the category of Best Actor. The 2018 film Manto was a groundbreaking performance that won him Best Actor at the 2018 Asia Pacific Screen Awards.
Celebrated author Paulo Coelho has recommended Sacred Games to his Twitter followers and lauded Nawazuddin’s work, calling it “One of the best series on Netflix with the great actor Nawazuddin”.
Personal life
Siddiqui lives in Mumbai with his younger brother, Shamas Nawab Siddiqui who is a director. Siddiqui is married to Aaliya, aka Anjana Kishor Pandey; they have a daughter, Shora, and a son, Yaani, who was born on the actor’s 41st birthday. On 19 May 2020, Aaliya revealed in an interview with The Indian Express that she was seeking a divorce from Siddiqui.
Apart from his acting work, Siddiqui continues to take time to farm in his hometown in Uttar Pradesh. His goal is to educate farmers about new techniques available and how they can help improve their lives. He has also implemented new irrigation techniques in Budhana, which has proven to be a significant help to local farmers.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Sarfarosh | Terrorist / Informer | |
| Shool | Waiter | ||
| 2000 | Jungle | Khabri (messenger) | |
| Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar | One of the leaders of the Second Mahad Satyagraha and in the background of Manusmriti Dahan | ||
| 2003 | The Bypass | First bandit | BFI London Film Festival / Milan Film Festival |
| Mudda – The Issue | Cameo appearance | ||
| Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. | Pickpocketer | ||
| 2006 | Family | Nawaz | |
| 2007 | Aaja Nachle | ||
| Ek Chalis Ki Last Local | Ponnappa’s brother | ||
| Manorama Six Feet Under | Local goon | ||
| Black Friday | Asgar Mukadam | ||
| 2008 | Black & White | Tahir Tayyabuddin | |
| 2009 | Firaaq | Hanif | |
| New York | Zilgai | ||
| Dev.D | Singer at wedding | Special appearance in the song “Emotional” | |
| 2010 | Peepli Live | Rakesh Kapoor | |
| 2011 | Dekh Indian Circus | Jethu | National Film Award – Special Jury Award / Special Mention (Feature Film) (also for Talaash, Gangs of Wasseypur and Kahaani) National film award for best children’s film Puson international film festival/ Tiburon film festival |
| 2012 | Kahaani | IB Officer A. Khan | |
| Patang | Chakkku | Premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival Was presented with the Thumbsup Trophy by the cinema critic Roger Ebert Tribeca Film Festival / Hawaii International Film Festival (Halekulani Golden Orchid award) for best narrative feature film |
|
| Paan Singh Tomar | Gopi | ||
| Gangs of Wasseypur – Part 1 | Faizal Khan | Lions Favorite ActorConsidered one of the best gangster and crime-drama movie series, the film won 13 awards, including at the Asia-Pacific Film Festival, Filmfare Awards, International Indian Film Academy Awards, National Film Awards, and Screen Awards. | |
| Gangs of Wasseypur – Part 2 | |||
| Chittagong | Nirmal Sen | ||
| Talaash: The Answer Lies Within | Taimur | Asian Film Award for Best Supporting Actor | |
| Miss Lovely | Sonu Duggal | Cannes Film Festival | |
| 2013 | Aatma – Feel It Around You | Abhay | |
| Bombay Talkies | Purandar | ||
| Shorts | Unnamed | ||
| Liar’s Dice | Nawazuddin | Cines del Sur / National Film Awards / Sakhalin International Film Festival / Sundance Film Festival | |
| Monsoon Shootout | Shiva | Cannes Film Festival / Chicago International Film Festival / Hawaii International Film Festival / Sydney Film Festival / Asia Pacific film festival / SitgesCatalonian international film festival | |
| The Lunchbox | Shaikh | Siddiqui won a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor / Cannes Film Festival/ Reykjavík International Film Festival, Sofia International Film Festival / Zagreb Film Festival / Audience Award at the Ghent International Film Festival | |
| Anwar Ka Ajab Kissa | Anwar | ||
| 2014 | Kick | Shiv Gajra | |
| 2015 | Lateef | Lateef | |
| Badlapur | Liak | ||
| Bajrangi Bhaijaan | Chand Nawab | ||
| Manjhi – The Mountain Man | Dashrath Manjhi | ||
| 2016 | Raman Raghav 2.0 | Ramanna | Siddiqui won Best Performance by an Actor at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards and the Official Jury Prize (Best Actor) at the FANCINE Festival de Cine Fantastico de la Universidad de Malaga |
| Te3n | Father Martin Das | ||
| Lion | Rama | Lion received six Oscar nominations at the 89th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay.It won two BAFTA Awards for Best Supporting Actor (Patel) and Best Adapted Screenplay. | |
| Freaky Ali | Ali | ||
| 2017 | Haraamkhor | Shyam | |
| Raees | SP Jaideep Ambalal Majmudar | ||
| In Defence of Freedom | Saadat Hasan Manto | Short film | |
| Mom | Daya Shankar “DK” Kapoor | ||
| Munna Michael | Mahinder Fauji | ||
| Babumoshai Bandookbaaz | Babu Bihari | ||
| Carbon: The Story of Tomorrow | Man from Mars | Short film | |
| 2018 | Mukkabaaz | Himself | Guest appearance in the song “Mushkil Hai Apna Meil Priye” |
| Genius | Samar Khan | ||
| Manto | Saadat Hasan Manto | Siddiqui won Best Performance by an Actor at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards and the GQ Men of the Year award.The film also premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and was the opening film at the Singapore South Asian Film Festival. | |
| 2019 | Petta | Singaar Singh / Singaram | Tamil film |
| Thackeray | Bal Thackeray | ||
| Photograph | Rafiullah / ‘Rafi’ | Sundance Film Festival (world premiere) 69th Berlin International Film Festival (European premiere) | |
| Housefull 4 | Ramsey Baba | ||
| Roam Rome Mein | Raj | Premiered at the 24th Busan International Film Festival / Appreciated at the Jio MAMI film festival | |
| Motichoor Chaknachoor | Pushpender Tyagi | ||
| 2020 | Ghoomketu | Ghoomketu | ZEE5 film |
| Raat Akeli Hai | Jatil Yadav | Released on Netflix on 31 July 2020 | |
| Bole Chudiyan | Nawab | ||
| Serious Men | Ayyan Mani | Released on Netflix on 2 October 2020 | |
| 2021 | Jogira Sara Ra Ra | Filming | |
| TBA | No Land’s Man | Filming |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Network | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | McMafia | Dilly Mahmood | BBC One, AMC | ||
| 2018–2019 | Sacred Games | Ganesh Gaitonde | Netflix | Emmy Award Nominee |
Awards and recognition
Siddiqui’s first lead role in a feature film was in Prashant Bhargava’s Patang, which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival, in which his performance has been praised by noted film critic Roger Ebert (awarding the film 4/4 stars), who stated that the role “transformed his acting style”.
He appeared in four major films in 2012: Kahaani, Gangs of Wasseypur, Gangs of Wasseypur – Part 2, and Talaash, all of which earned him wide critical reception and awards, including a Screen Award for Best Supporting Actor and a Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Male, both for his role as Taimur in Talaash: The Answer Lies Within, as well as a Stardust Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Gangs of Wasseypur.
He won the title of Breakthrough Talent at the 2012 GQ Men of the Year Awards.
Siddiqui was awarded the Special Jury Award at the 60th National Film Awards 2012 for his work in the films Kahaani, Gangs of Wasseypur, Dekh Indian Circus, and Talaash.
Most recently, he was awarded with the highest honour, The Lesley Ho Asian Film Talent Award, at the prestigious Singapore International Film Festival, for Sacred Games.
| Year | Award | Film | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | National Film Awards | Talaash: The Answer Lies Within, Kahaani, Gangs of Wasseypur, Dekh Indian Circus | Special Jury Award | Won |
| Zee Cine Awards | Talaash: The Answer Lies Within | Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Male | Won | |
| Screen Awards | Talaash: The Answer Lies Within | Screen Award for Best Supporting Actor | Won | |
| Stardust Awards | Gangs of Wasseypur | Stardust Award for Best Supporting Actor | Nominated | |
| Asian Film Awards | Talaash: The Answer Lies Within | Asian Film Award for Best Supporting Actor | Won | |
| New York Indian Film Festival | Dekh Indian Circus | Award for Best Actor | Won | |
| GQ Men of the Year Awards 2012 | For work done in 2012 | Breakthrough Talent | Won | |
| Lions Gold Awards 2012 | Gangs of Wasseypur | Lions Favourite Actor | Won | |
| 2013 | Filmfare Awards | The Lunchbox | Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor | Won |
| Renault Star Guild Awards | The Lunchbox | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Won | |
| 2015 | Filmfare Awards | Badlapur | Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor | Nominated |
| Zee Cine Awards | Bajrangi Bhaijaan | Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Comic Role | Won | |
| Badlapur | Zee Cine Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role | Won | ||
| 2016 | IBNLive Movie Awards | Manjhi – The Mountain Man | Best Actor | Nominated |
| 2018 | Filmfare Awards | Mom | Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor | Nominated |
| IIFA Awards | Best Performance in a Supporting Role (Male) | Won | ||
| GQ Men of the Year | ||||
| Asia Pacific Screen Awards | Manto | Best Performance by an Actor | Won | |
| IReel Awards | Sacred Games | Best Actor (Drama) | Won | |
| 2019 | Filmfare Awards | Manto | Best Actor (Critics) | Nominated |
| 2020 | Filmfare Awards | Photograph | Best Actor (Critics) | Nominated |
| Filmfare OTT Awards | Raat Akeli Hai | Best Leading Actor in A Web Original Film | Won |
International recognition
| Year | Festival / Award | Film | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Asian Film Awards | Talaash: The Answer Lies Within | Best Supporting Actor | Won |
| 2012 | “THUMBSUP TROPHY” by Roger Ebert | Patang | ||
| 2012 | NYIFF | Dekh Indian Circus | Best Actor | Won |
| 2013 | Asia Pacific Film Festival | The Lunchbox | Best Supporting Actor | Won |
| 2014 | Chicago South Asian Film Festival | Honored for Outstanding Achievement in Cinema | Won | |
| 2016 | FANCINE festival de cine fantastic de la Universidad de la Malaga | Raman Raghav 2.0 | Official Jury Prize | Won |
| 2016 | Asia Pacific Screen Awards | Raman Raghav 2.0 | Best Performance by an Actor | Won |
| 2017 | NYIFF | Haraamkhor | Best Actor | Won |
| 2018 | Asia Pacific Screen Awards | Manto | Best Performance by an Actor | Won |
| 2018 | IReel Awards | Sacred Games | Best Actor (Drama) | Won |
| 2019 | International Emmy Award | Sacred Games | Best Drama | Nominated |
| 2019 | International Emmy Award | Best Drama | Nominated | |
| 2019 | Cardiff International Film festival | Bestowed with the Golden Dragon Award for Excellence in Cinema in the Global Arena | ||
| 2019 | Asian Film Talent award (SIFF) | Sacred Games | Honored by Lesley Ho Asian Film Talent |