I don't want to build any image for myself. I don't want people to say, 'He does only a certain type of role.' I don't want only to be the hero of the story. An actor's weakness is the different roles that he can't do. But I am keen to grab only those roles as I am here to challenge myself.
— Nawazuddin Siddiqui
In 'Haraamkhor,' I have explored a few things which I wouldn't have been able to do in bigger films. The process of shooting this film was so organic that it enhanced me as an actor and an artiste.
Commercial hit films such as 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan,' 'Talaash,' and 'Kick' had big superstars to sell them; that may not have been the case if it were just me.
I am ably balancing big and small films. With every big film I do, I try to take up films that are high on content and small on budget.
I am doing characters that have so many layers. And I am very lucky that I show a lot of variety.
If I am expected to play a dancer, I will learn dancing but won't do the random, meaningless dancing.
'Freaky Ali' is not a heavy film. It's a simple but inspiring film. It will inspire those who want to go from zero to hundred. People who have made an effort to achieve success from nothing will be able to connect to the character.
I was shooting for 'Kahaani' and 'GOW' back to back. I was in a village on work, where a man extended a paper to me. For a minute I thought he wanted another actor's autograph. I looked back and forth, but there was no one. That was quite an experience.
'Kahaani' gave me popularity and 'Gangs of Wasseypur' stardom.
Muzaffarnagar is 40 kilometers from my village. So I used to see films if I was able to save money and on special occasions like Eid, Diwali.
I always thought golf was a game reserved for the rich and the elite... But it's a misconception. It's a highly technical game, and it's a game that you can play and master alone. You require sharp skills for it, and you can play the game alone.
I don't want to take names, but there are some people who get everything served on a platter. This is a movie, this is your role, and you have to do it. Some people have to strive so hard to reach where they have and want to.
I decided to be a part of 'Bajrangi'... because I felt that it tells a very relevant story.
Kabir Khan is that rare director who manages to merge Bollywood formula with a good story.
When someone is looking at me, I feel they are looking at someone standing behind me, not at me.
I believe everyone is mad when they are in love, and I don't think that can ever end.
My character in the first instalment of 'GOW' was very shy and reserved. It was completely different from 'Kahaani,' where I played a no-nonsense cop. And in the second instalment of 'GOW,' it is again very different.
I have never thought about creating an image for myself in Bollywood. I am an actor and just want to experiment with roles. I am ready to do all type of roles.
I have done theatre, and I enjoy the process of smaller films a lot more. When I do such films, there are certain things which I get to do which are untapped. The scenes give me the liberty to play and mould the character in accordance to the director's mindset.
My experience has offered me the sensibility that encourages me to try newer characters.
The Indian audience is getting exposed to world cinema and realising the power of unique plots and distinct characters.
Only heroes get stereotyped. As they do the same kind of roles again and again.
You will never see me dancing around the trees, chasing a heroine; I will never do films, no matter what the budget, for the heck of it.
Looks is a matter of perception. At Cannes, Europeans think I am good looking, while in India, I am not.
I kind of discovered Kolkata when I was shooting here for 'Kahaani.' I found the city fascinating.
At NSD, I had an amazing experience learning everything from stagecraft to western drama and Shakespeare, Maxim Gorky, Anton Chekov.
I grew fond of acting rather late. And that was because I was not getting any job. I had a few friends in Delhi who were associated with theater. They took me to see some plays in Delhi and Baroda. That led me to believe the I could also act. And it was after that I joined National School of Drama in 1993.
In my head, I believed even though I am an actor, there was no need to dance. That's not me.
I was determined to be an actor and make a name in the industry, and hence, I did.
Kabir Khan is a director who goes out of his way to make his actors comfortable. He's very chilled out. He makes the environment on set very casual and friendly.
I am very confident about my work because I have worked very hard.
I am trying every genre.
I have fallen in love so many times. If one relationship ended, I would search for another girl. I was always madly in love with all the girls that I dated.
The easier it looks on screen, the more hard work goes into making it so.
I prefer if friends come over to my office and we talk our heart out over a cup of coffee. I feel that no one talks freely at industry bashes. Everyone has to behave in a certain way, and I think no one is real there. We can't have heart-to-heart conversations, and I start feeling uncomfortable at such dos.
I do big films just to experience personal satisfaction.
If one line about the film excites me, I try to take it forward.
I am quite looking forward to working with Shah Rukh Khan.
I was fortunate enough to get an author-backed role in Aamir Khan starrer 'Talash.'
I don't understand what A grade commercial cinema is. If you are talking about box office success, mine are A+ then!
Often when I feel I am reaching a saturation point in my performances, I think of coming back to NSD and attending workshops.
The film industry is mostly about unidimensional characters.
Prior to joining NSD, I was briefly associated with a small theater group in Delhi called Sakshi. Saurabh Shukla, Manoj Bapayee were my seniors in that group. I performed a few supporting roles in Sakshi plays.
Many actors come and disappear into oblivion. But not Salman Khan.
I have seen people climbing up and down the ladder of success, and I learnt a lot from them.
I won't give the credit to 'good fortune.' Whatever I have achieved is because of my hard work and passion.
If I am comfortable with my co-star, then that always shows in my performances.
I am a five-foot six-inch, dark, ordinary-looking man. People didn't imagine that I would make it.
The difference between an actor and a star is the budget and the overall presentation of a film.
Back in 1993, I was studying in Delhi, and I had a girlfriend. I had never touched a girl before that in my entire life. One day, I decided to go out with her to a garden. We were sitting beside each other, and I just glanced around to see if anyone was looking at us, and I put my hand over hers. I thought love started in this way.
