Nawazuddin Siddiqui in a still from Bypass.
New Delhi:
As far as origin stories go, actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui has one to rival the most troubled of superheroes. The son of a farmer, Nawazuddin was overlooked for years and played bit parts in movies starring biggies like Aamir Khan and Sanjay Dutt. Now, it seems like no film is made without him but in the years that led upto Sujoy Ghosh's Kahaani, the 41-year-old actor languished in miniscule roles like the now-famous appearance in the Dev D song Emotional Atyachaar. (Also Read: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, The Farmer's Son Who Became Bollywood's Most Wanted)
2012 was the year of Nawazuddin with no less than eight films starring the actor. Beginning with Kahaani, the roster included the two Gangs Of Wasseypur movies, Paan Singh Tomar, Chittagong, Talaash, Patang and Miss Lovely. Since then, his filmography has read like a ready reckoner of who's who in Bollywood. He has starred with all three Khans and been directed by some of the industry's most acclaimed filmmakers. His CV includes both critical darlings like The Lunchbox and Badlapur and commercial blockbusters like Salman Khan's Kick and Bajrangi Bhaijaan. (Also Read: 'Shah Rukh, Salman, Aamir Are My Co-Stars, Not Stars,' Says Nawazuddin)
Nawazuddin recently told news agency IANS: "I enjoy doing these (commercial) films because even if five per cent of Salman's fans watch my smaller films then they will become a hit." The actor's next few movies include Rahul Dholakia's Raees, which co-stars Shah Rukh Khan.
Big films with big names. It might surprise you, however, to discover that Nawazuddin has always been in big films with big names - you just didn't know he was in the films. Here's a quick look at just a few of the pre-Kahaani roles Nawaz was cast in, as well as a couple of appearances by other stars that you may have missed in certain films. (Also Read: How Nawazuddin Siddiqui Nailed the Interrogation Scene in Black Friday)
1. Nawazuddin in Sarfarosh:
Image courtesy: Shemaroo YouTube
In Black Friday:
2. Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan in Ki And Ka
While some entered tinsel town on a small note, some noted actors often appear in smaller roles. Often, this is to add star value to small scale projects and sometimes, the actor in question happens to be the filmmaker's lucky mascot. Like Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan in R Balki's upcoming film Ki And Ka, which features Arjun Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor in the lead roles. Big B played the lead in all three films Balki has made so far - Cheeni Kum, Paa and Shamitabh - and even made an extended cameo is his wife's Gauri Shinde's debut film English Vinglish. Mr Bachchan's famous voice has also been employed by Bollywood in narrative roles for films like Lagaan.
This image was posted on Facebook by Amitabh Bachchan
3. Abhishek Bachchan in Shamitabh
The Bachchans are Balki's favourites. Even Abhishek had a nano-second role in his 2015 film Shamitabh. This, almost everyone missed and we had hard time unearthing the moment:
4. Kajol in Kal Ho Naa Ho
Talking of lucky mascots, Karan Johar inducted his good luck charm Kajol into Kal Ho Naa Ho, which featured Preity Zinta in the female lead:
5. Anushka Sharma in Lage Raho Munna Bhai
Anushka Sharma, who made an impressive debut opposite Shah Rukh Khan in 2008's Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, had earlier featured in Rajkumar Hirani's 2006 film Lage Raho Munna Bhai, albeit inadvertently. ICYMI, it was on an advertisement Sanjay Dutt walks by inside the radio station.
6. Shahid Kapoor in Taal
It is a well-known fact that Shahid Kapoor was in choreographer Shiamak Davar's dance troupe and has appeared as a backdrop dancer in songs choreographed by him. Here's a glimpse of Shahid in Taal:
7. Tabu in Main Hoon Naa
Director Farah Khan has a habit of drafting her friends into her films, sometimes when you least expect it. In her debut film as director, Farah chose Shah Rukh Khan and Sushmita Sen to lead the cast and added Tabu, Karan Johar (read later), her choreographer-friend Geeta and filmmaker-brother Sajid Khan for extra fun.
Tabu's expression was priceless:
Yes, this is Geeta Kapur:
In her second film Om Shanti Om, Farah expanded these special appearances into a full length song titled Deewangi Deewangi, featuring half the film industry - just as 1981 film Naseeb had in the star-studded song John Jaani Janardhan:
8. Rajinikanth in RA. One
From one Robot to another - Rajinikanth made an appearance as Chitti, the robot from his 2010 film Enthiran (titled Robot in Hindi) in Shah Rukh's film RA. One. SRK himself played the role of 'G. One,' a video game character come to life.
9. Karan Johar in Main Hoon Naa and Fashion
Actors alone do not enjoy the thrill of a cameo - filmmakers are also sometimes inserted on-screen. Between his roles proper in 1995's Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and this year's Bombay Velvet, Karan Johar had blink and miss roles in films like Main Hoon Naa and Fashion.
In Main Hoon Naa
In Fashion
10. Kiran Rao in Dil Chahta Hai
Though Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao's love story started on the sets of Lagaan, she had earlier appeared for a split second in Dil Chahta Hai:
11. Ayan Mukherji in Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, Home Delivery and Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani
Like his mentor Karan Johar, director Ayan Mukherji too has several cameos to his credit. In his cousin Rani Mukerji's Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, directed by KJo, he appeared as a passer-by in the song Tumhi Dekho Na:
He was also one of the wedding guests in his own film Yeh Jawani Jai Deewani:
Image courtesy:
12. Subhash Ghai in all his films
Filmmaker Subhash Ghai's presence in his films mimicked that of Hollywood's legendary filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock, who gave himself a cameo in every film he ever made - inserting himself into a sceneas a passer-by on the street or as the main actor's co-passenger on the train and even as a picture in the newspaper. Mr Ghai, too, has appeared in his films like Pardes, Taal and Yaadein, interacting with his actors.
In Pardes
In Taal
In Yaadein
13. Ruskin Bond in Saat Khoon Maaf
Filmmakers aside, even celebrated author Ruskin Bond, normally reclusive, faced the camera for a scene in Saat Khoon Maaf, based on his own short story Susanna's Seven Husbands:
14. Reena Dutta in QSQT
Aamir Khan broke several hearts after the release of breakthrough film Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak when it was revealed that he was already married to childhood sweetheart Reena. She was on set while the song Papa Kehte Hain was being filmed and can be seen briefly, sharing a moment with Aamir.
2012 was the year of Nawazuddin with no less than eight films starring the actor. Beginning with Kahaani, the roster included the two Gangs Of Wasseypur movies, Paan Singh Tomar, Chittagong, Talaash, Patang and Miss Lovely. Since then, his filmography has read like a ready reckoner of who's who in Bollywood. He has starred with all three Khans and been directed by some of the industry's most acclaimed filmmakers. His CV includes both critical darlings like The Lunchbox and Badlapur and commercial blockbusters like Salman Khan's Kick and Bajrangi Bhaijaan. (Also Read: 'Shah Rukh, Salman, Aamir Are My Co-Stars, Not Stars,' Says Nawazuddin)
Nawazuddin recently told news agency IANS: "I enjoy doing these (commercial) films because even if five per cent of Salman's fans watch my smaller films then they will become a hit." The actor's next few movies include Rahul Dholakia's Raees, which co-stars Shah Rukh Khan.
Big films with big names. It might surprise you, however, to discover that Nawazuddin has always been in big films with big names - you just didn't know he was in the films. Here's a quick look at just a few of the pre-Kahaani roles Nawaz was cast in, as well as a couple of appearances by other stars that you may have missed in certain films. (Also Read: How Nawazuddin Siddiqui Nailed the Interrogation Scene in Black Friday)
1. Nawazuddin in Sarfarosh:
Image courtesy: Shemaroo YouTube
In Black Friday:
2. Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan in Ki And Ka
While some entered tinsel town on a small note, some noted actors often appear in smaller roles. Often, this is to add star value to small scale projects and sometimes, the actor in question happens to be the filmmaker's lucky mascot. Like Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan in R Balki's upcoming film Ki And Ka, which features Arjun Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor in the lead roles. Big B played the lead in all three films Balki has made so far - Cheeni Kum, Paa and Shamitabh - and even made an extended cameo is his wife's Gauri Shinde's debut film English Vinglish. Mr Bachchan's famous voice has also been employed by Bollywood in narrative roles for films like Lagaan.
This image was posted on Facebook by Amitabh Bachchan 3. Abhishek Bachchan in Shamitabh
The Bachchans are Balki's favourites. Even Abhishek had a nano-second role in his 2015 film Shamitabh. This, almost everyone missed and we had hard time unearthing the moment:
4. Kajol in Kal Ho Naa Ho
Talking of lucky mascots, Karan Johar inducted his good luck charm Kajol into Kal Ho Naa Ho, which featured Preity Zinta in the female lead:
5. Anushka Sharma in Lage Raho Munna Bhai
Anushka Sharma, who made an impressive debut opposite Shah Rukh Khan in 2008's Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, had earlier featured in Rajkumar Hirani's 2006 film Lage Raho Munna Bhai, albeit inadvertently. ICYMI, it was on an advertisement Sanjay Dutt walks by inside the radio station.
6. Shahid Kapoor in Taal
It is a well-known fact that Shahid Kapoor was in choreographer Shiamak Davar's dance troupe and has appeared as a backdrop dancer in songs choreographed by him. Here's a glimpse of Shahid in Taal:
7. Tabu in Main Hoon Naa
Director Farah Khan has a habit of drafting her friends into her films, sometimes when you least expect it. In her debut film as director, Farah chose Shah Rukh Khan and Sushmita Sen to lead the cast and added Tabu, Karan Johar (read later), her choreographer-friend Geeta and filmmaker-brother Sajid Khan for extra fun.
Tabu's expression was priceless:
Yes, this is Geeta Kapur:
In her second film Om Shanti Om, Farah expanded these special appearances into a full length song titled Deewangi Deewangi, featuring half the film industry - just as 1981 film Naseeb had in the star-studded song John Jaani Janardhan:
8. Rajinikanth in RA. One
From one Robot to another - Rajinikanth made an appearance as Chitti, the robot from his 2010 film Enthiran (titled Robot in Hindi) in Shah Rukh's film RA. One. SRK himself played the role of 'G. One,' a video game character come to life.
9. Karan Johar in Main Hoon Naa and Fashion
Actors alone do not enjoy the thrill of a cameo - filmmakers are also sometimes inserted on-screen. Between his roles proper in 1995's Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge and this year's Bombay Velvet, Karan Johar had blink and miss roles in films like Main Hoon Naa and Fashion.
In Main Hoon Naa
In Fashion
10. Kiran Rao in Dil Chahta Hai
Though Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao's love story started on the sets of Lagaan, she had earlier appeared for a split second in Dil Chahta Hai:
11. Ayan Mukherji in Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, Home Delivery and Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani
Like his mentor Karan Johar, director Ayan Mukherji too has several cameos to his credit. In his cousin Rani Mukerji's Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, directed by KJo, he appeared as a passer-by in the song Tumhi Dekho Na:
He was also one of the wedding guests in his own film Yeh Jawani Jai Deewani:
Image courtesy:
12. Subhash Ghai in all his films
Filmmaker Subhash Ghai's presence in his films mimicked that of Hollywood's legendary filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock, who gave himself a cameo in every film he ever made - inserting himself into a sceneas a passer-by on the street or as the main actor's co-passenger on the train and even as a picture in the newspaper. Mr Ghai, too, has appeared in his films like Pardes, Taal and Yaadein, interacting with his actors.
In Pardes
In Taal
In Yaadein
13. Ruskin Bond in Saat Khoon Maaf
Filmmakers aside, even celebrated author Ruskin Bond, normally reclusive, faced the camera for a scene in Saat Khoon Maaf, based on his own short story Susanna's Seven Husbands:
14. Reena Dutta in QSQT
Aamir Khan broke several hearts after the release of breakthrough film Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak when it was revealed that he was already married to childhood sweetheart Reena. She was on set while the song Papa Kehte Hain was being filmed and can be seen briefly, sharing a moment with Aamir.
