Nawazuddin Siddiqui says he achieved so much despite facing discrimination for his dark complexion: ‘Agar gora hota to kya ker deta'

Indian Express

2 days ago

Nawazuddin Siddiqui has always been blunt about his opinions on nepotism and prejudice against a certain section of actors in the industry, including himself. In a recent interview, the actor opened up about the society's judgement about his looks and complexion, and filmmakers' aversiveness towards making a high budget film with him. He also spoke about his 2016 movie Raman Raghav 2.0 not getting enough screens at the theatres.
During a candid conversation with Nayandeep Rakshith, Nawazuddin admitted that he doesn't have a fear of losing commercially and critically. 'I don't have any fear. But yes, there are many actors who have been rejected, but keep coming back because of their film background and support system. Hum jaise log, main, Manoj Bajpayee or more actors like us, unko nahi hota yeh…box office, etc. What will you say to Manoj Bajpayee? Vo box office se upar uth chuka hai. He is not chasing it,' he said.
The actor cited examples of a few actors and revealed that no one in the fraternity is ready to make a big budget film with them. 'For example, Naseer sahab (Naseeruddin Shah), Om Puri, Manoj bhai, Irrfan, or other actors like us, humein lekar Rs 25 crore se upar kabhi kisi ne film banaayi hi nahi (Nobody ever made a film with budget over Rs 25 crore with actors like me, Naseer sir, Om Puri, Manoj and Irrfan). Secondly, people want to watch our films but the screens don't reach there. If you want to see our box office numbers, then atleast give us that distribution of screens as well. Only then you'll get to know how many people want to watch us. Today, we talk highly of Irrfan. Ofcourse, he was a great actor. But, no one cast him in a film with a Rs 20-25 crore budget,' he stated.
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Classifying actors into two categories, he said, 'This is the reason why it's said that there are two kinds of actors, ek public ka aur ek industry ka. Even if people don't want to watch the industry's actor, their films are released right in front of your house. But, the actor whose film public actually wants to see, their film is released in 200-300 screens, ek subah ka show aur ek raat ka. I get bothered.'
Nawazuddin Siddiqui felt disappointed after his film, Anurag Kashyap's directorial Raman Raghav 2.0, didn't get enough screens. 'We didn't get enough screens for Raman Raghav. The film released and there were very less screens at theatres. Jab release hui toh gaaliyan bhi padi humein ki kaisi filmein banaate hain. Jab vahi film baad mein dekhi gayi, tab logon ne bola kya film hai (When the film released, people abused us and said what sort of film is this. The same film was appreciated when it come out on OTT). This happens with many people,' he shared.
When asked about facing judgements of the industry for his looks, the 51-year-old replied, 'Vo toh aaj tak jhelne padte hain. Thankfully, the industry doesn't think like that, but it still exists in the society. In my initial days, many people said, 'Aap actor dikhte nahi ho' (you don't look like an actor). That used to make me feel bad. Kya karein ab? Kaala hu toh yahan tak pahuch gaya, agar gora hota toh kya kardeta main (I am dark, still reached till here, imagine what all I could have done if I was fair).'
On the professional front, Nawazuddin Siddiqui was last seen in the Zee5 film Costao, directed by Sejal Shah.