“The world might remain fixated on formula, but I will continue to experiment,” says Nawazuddin Siddiqui . In Delhi, to talk about Anand Surapur’s Rautu Ka Raaz, his latest character study of a “slow-footed” police officer from a quiet hamlet in Uttarakhand that is untouched by crime until a murder disturbs the tranquillity of the place, the versatile actor says he doesn’t hold secrets like Bollywood stars. “My life has been an open book.
Even when I tried to keep something out of public discourse, I was not given that privilege.” Yet, he says, it doesn’t affect the variety of roles offered to him. “I have never been image-conscious.
Heroes manage to keep the personal out of the picture but still do the same stuff on screen. I have been lucky that the industry allowed me to play personalities as diverse as (Saadat Hasan) Manto and (Balasaheb) Thackeray. They were poles apart not only from each other, but also from who I am and where I come from.
I am yet to do a film set in Western Uttar Pradesh where I get to speak the local language.” When he was shooting for the imposing police officer in Kahaani , he was also playing the seedy, physically-disabled Taimur Langda in Talaash. “I have resisted moulds,” he underlines.
Someone who prefers shooting outdoors in real locations rather than on sets in the Filmcity, Nawaz says, “Atmosphere speaks to an actor and gives a kick that brings a natural appeal to the character. On the sets, it becomes a little me.