Happy Birthday, Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Bollywood's Gangster Turns 46
Happy birthday, Nawazuddin Siddiqui! The actor is best known for his roles in the Gangs Of Wasseypur films and popular web-series Sacred Games. As he turns a year older today, here's a pictorial look at his life and journey as an actor so far.
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Born in Budhana, Nawazuddin grew up in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar. He worked as a chemist in Vadodara for a year after which he travelled to Delhi in search of a new job. Drawn to acting, Nawazuddin took admission in the National School Of Drama (NSD) and graduated in 1999.
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Nawazuddin made his debut in Bollywood with a brief role in Aamir Khan's Sarfarosh the year he passed out of NSD. In the next few years, he also appeared in small roles in films such as Shool, Jungle, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and Munna Bhai MBBS. Nawazuddin also co-starred with Aamir Khan years later in Talaash.
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Following his brief stints in films, Nawazuddin Siddiqui struggled to survive the harsh ways of the Hindi film industry, shifting into a shared flat and then eventually working as a cook for a senior from National School Of Drama. Nawazuddin's break-out role of sorts arrived in 2010 film Peepli Live, in which he played a local reporter. And then we saw him as a cop in 2011 thriller Kahaani.
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In 2012, Nawazuddin Siddiqui earned critical acclaim for his performance as a crime lord in Anurag Kashyap's Gangs Of Wasseypur series of films. Nawazuddin had worked with the director in Black Friday before. Nawazuddin received a special mention at the 60th National Film Awards for his onscreen gangster persona.
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However, after the release of Netflix series Sacred Games, Nawazuddin Siddiqui's portrayal of gangster Ganeish Gaitonde is cited as one of his best performed roles. He also played a don in international series McMafia, which won Best Drama Series at International Emmy Awards.
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On the personal front, Nawazuddin Siddiqui lost his sister to cancer in December last year. Ahead of his birthday, he recently travelled to his ancestral home in Bundhana with his mother and brother. "We have followed all the guidelines given by the State Government," he tweeted a day ahead of his birthday. Wish you a very happy birthday, Nawazuddin Siddiqui!
