Nawazuddin Siddiqui Struggled, Had To Deal With Many Rejections

NEW DELHI (ANI)-The road to success in Bollywood isn’t always smooth — a fact Nawazuddin Siddiqui knows all too well. Despite lacking the conventional looks of a mainstream hero, the actor has carved a niche for himself through sheer talent and a deep passion for acting.

Nawazuddin recently opened up about his early struggles, revealing that even television roles were hard to come by in the beginning.

“I struggled a lot even in TV serials in the beginning. But I didn’t get work on TV either,” he said ruefully.

Starting out with small roles in films like Sarfarosh and Shool, Nawazuddin gained recognition after his breakout performance in Gangs of Wasseypur Part 2. Since then, he has become known for his intense and authentic portrayals in Indian cinema.

“I didn’t come here to do big roles. I was content with whatever came my way,” he said. “It’s those who come chasing stardom who end up feeling disappointed. I just wanted to act — whether on a big stage or on sand.”

He added, If I hadn’t found acting opportunities, I would’ve formed my own group and performed theatre in Mumbai’s local trains.

Nawazuddin also spoke about his upcoming project Costao, a biographical drama based on the life of Goa-based customs officer Costao Fernandes.

When asked about portraying a real-life character, he admitted, “It’s a big challenge… Doing a biopic as an actor in our industry is a very risky thing.”

Costao is directed by debutant Sejal Shah and features Priya Bapat, Kishore Kumar G, Gagan Dev Riar, and Hussain Dalal. The film is set to premiere on ZEE5 on May 1.