Renowned for his compelling performances and ability to slip seamlessly into any role, actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui recently shared insights into the kind of characters that resonate with him most — those who remain hidden in plain sight. In a world where flamboyance and larger-than-life roles often steal the spotlight, Nawazuddin says his heart lies with the unnoticed, the ordinary, and the forgotten.
Speaking in a candid interaction about his approach to acting, Siddiqui expressed a deep admiration for roles that don’t scream for attention. “I like characters who get lost in the crowd,” he revealed, emphasizing that he is most inspired by figures who mirror the real world — people you might pass on the street without ever realizing the depth of their story.
The seasoned actor, known for films like Gangs of Wasseypur, The Lunchbox, Manto, and Photograph, has built his career playing such nuanced roles. Whether he’s portraying a conflicted gangster or a lonely office worker, Siddiqui brings subtlety and texture to each character, making the invisible visible through his craft. This preference, he explained, stems from his own observations of life and society — where, more often than not, the most profound stories belong to the people no one notices.
“There’s a certain poetry in anonymity,” he said, adding that the richness of a character isn’t always found in grand gestures or heroic arcs, but in small moments, internal struggles, and quiet resilience. According to him, these characters are not only relatable but also offer him the greatest challenge as an actor: to express volumes without saying much, and to be noticed even when the character is meant to disappear into the background.
Siddiqui’s commitment to authenticity has earned him critical acclaim and a devoted fanbase that appreciates realism over spectacle. He believes that cinema should reflect truth, and for him, that truth is best embodied by roles that feel lived-in and believable — roles that could just as easily exist off-screen as on.
In an era where stardom is often equated with charisma and spectacle, Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s grounded approach serves as a reminder of cinema’s deeper potential. His love for characters that “get lost in the crowd” isn’t just a personal preference — it’s a philosophy that continues to shape some of the most powerful performances in Indian cinema today.
