Born in Budhana, Uttar Pradesh, Nawazuddin Siddiqui was 17 when a television first arrived in a house in his village. It was there that his eyes fell on a neighbourhood girl. He fell in love with her at first sight. Every day, she would visit the house to watch TV, and Nawaz began following her. They would sit for hours, stealing glances at each other.
One day, gathering courage, Nawaz held her hand and said, “Stop watching TV. Look at me instead.”
The girl replied, “I will only watch TV.”
Angered, Nawazuddin shot back, “One day, you’ll see me on TV.”
The girl jerked his hand away, probably wondering how this thin, ordinary-looking boy from a small village could ever become a hero.
Years later, Nawazuddin proved his words true. Through relentless dedication, hard work, and raw talent, he rose from obscurity to stardom. His journey was filled with struggle — he worked as a watchman, once walked 19 kilometres after losing just 100 rupees, survived on tea and biscuits for days, and was often insulted and thrown out of studios.
He started with small roles as a waiter, thief, or goon on television, but his powerful performances eventually earned him a place among Bollywood’s finest actors. His iconic dialogues like “Baap ka, dada ka, bhai ka sabka badla lega tera Faisal…” still echo in the hearts of his fans — a testament to his extraordinary talent and unmatched screen presence.
Today Nawazuddin Siddiqui has turned 52 years old. On the occasion of his birthday, let’s know interesting stories related to his life-
Story – 1
Left Chief Chemist Job, Then Mortgaged Mother’s Jewellery to Become a Watchman
May 19, 1974
Nawazuddin Siddiqui was the eldest among 8 siblings. The family did farming, but Nawazuddin was interested in studies.
Childhood picture of Nawazuddin Siddiqui.
Nawazuddin Siddiqui with three brothers.
At the age of 10, his father sent him to the wrestling arena, but after being beaten repeatedly, he refused to continue. His early education was in the village and then his father, appreciating his interest, got him admitted to Gurukul Kangri University in Haridwar to graduate in Chemistry.
Nawazuddin Siddiqui giving a speech during his college days.
After his studies, he got a job as Chief Chemist at a chemical factory in Vadodara. Nawaz was the only one in his family who had completed graduation. Within a month, Nawaz got bored with this work and left for Delhi in search of a new job.
One day, Nawazuddin Siddiqui went to Mandi House to watch a friend’s play and decided to try acting himself. He realised that this was the work that would never bore him. He joined a play group to get admission to the National School of Drama. Actually, for admission, it was mandatory for students to perform in 10 plays.
During the days of struggle, making ends meet became difficult. One day, while urinating in the Sulabh facility outside New Delhi Railway Station, Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s eyes fell on a pamphlet stuck on the wall. It read: 500 security guards, 300 watchmen needed.
When he reached that company’s Shahdara office, he was told he would get the job, but would have to pay 5 thousand as security deposit.
Nawazuddin agreed. He went to his village, mortgaged his mother’s gold jewelry to get the money, and with that deposit, he got a job as a watchman at a toy manufacturing company in Noida.
Story- 2
When he fainted in the heat, the owner said- Who gave this dead man a job
Nawazuddin Siddiqui would work as a watchman from 9 AM to 5 PM and then go straight to Mandi House in the evening to perform in plays. This routine continued for one and a half years. At the toy company where he worked, he had to stand for 8 hours in harsh sunlight, there was no place for shade, and on top of that, Nawaz was extremely thin and frail. Within a short time, exhausted by the sun and fatigue, he would sit down in a corner by the gate. Unfortunately, as soon as he sat down, his boss would arrive. This happened 5-6 times. One day, he fainted while standing in the sun. Just then, the boss arrived. The next day, he shouted – ‘Who hired this dead man to work? Who brought him here, remove him.’
When Nawazuddin asked for his deposit back, the response was – ‘You fell, it’s your fault, so we won’t give you the money.’
And thus, Nawaz lost his 5000 rupees.
During his struggling days, he lived in a rented room in Shakarpur, East Delhi. At that time, struggling actor-comedian Vijay Raaz was his roommate. The room rent was 150 rupees, so both would pay 75-75 rupees each. Both would survive on tea and biscuits three times a day.
After some time, he got admission to the National School of Drama through plays. There, accommodation and food arrangements were also provided.
Pictures from Nawazuddin’s play days-
Story- 3
Sold coriander at crossroads to turn 100 into 200
After completing his studies at NSD, Nawazuddin came to Bombay in 1999. One day a friend said to Nawazuddin Siddiqui, ‘We need to turn 100 rupees into 200.’
Nawazuddin quickly said- ‘Yes, we need to, but how?’
The answer came- ‘We’ll sell coriander. Come along with me.’
Nawaz went with his friend from Goregaon to Dadar by local train. They bought coriander in bulk for 400 from the vegetable market and made bunches and stood at the crossroads. Nawaz was standing quietly, but his friend was shouting loudly- ‘Coriander, one bunch for 10.’
No customer came and within an hour the coriander turned black. Both went to the vegetable seller and said, this didn’t sell and has turned black. The shopkeeper said- ‘Hey, you have to sprinkle water on it every minute.’ This time Nawaz said angrily- ‘Then you should have told us this earlier.’
Instead of doubling the money, it reduced further. They didn’t have money so both came from Dadar to Goregaon without tickets.
Story- 4
Took weight gain medicine with Vijay Raaz, body deteriorated
During struggling days, actors Vijay Raaz and Nawazuddin were roommates. The room rent was 150 rupees, so both would pay 75-75 each. Both were thin and lean. One day, seeing Nawazuddin worried about gaining weight, Vijay Raaz said- ‘You do one thing, I’ll write down a medicine for you, you take it.’
Vijay Raaz had also started his career with theatre.
He wrote down his medicines and gave them. He too was taking the same medicine to gain weight. Once his weight increased significantly, but after stopping the medicine, he became thin again.
Nawazuddin also took the same medicines. At that time his weight was only 50-51 kilos. After taking one pill, he would feel so hungry that he would keep eating for hours. Within 15 days of taking the medicine, he became 65-67 kilos. His body deteriorated so much that he had to stop the medicine and within a few days his weight reduced again.
Story- 5
To save money, he kept acting blind in front of the vegetable vendor
Nawazuddin Siddiqui used to try every possible way to save money during his struggling days. Near the place where he lived on rent, there was a vegetable vendor. Every day, he would go to buy vegetables acting like a blind person. Out of pity, the vegetable vendor would take less money. Nawaz did this for a full 2 years. Story- 6
Manoj Tiwari used to play a bear in the play, Nawaz would stand as a tree for hours
During his theatre days, Manoj Tiwari used to be quite famous. He had gotten the film Bandit Queen. At that time, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Vijay Raaz got a play with him. Manoj played a bear in it and Nawazuddin Siddiqui got the role of a tree. Manoj, playing the bear, would deliberately come near the tree and rub his body and act as if scratching an itch. Due to the play, Nawazuddin Siddiqui had to stand for hours playing a tree.
Manoj Tiwari and Nawazuddin appeared together in Gangs of Wasseypur.
Story- 7
When friend disappeared, coincidentally got first role in film Sarfarosh
The place where Nawazuddin Siddiqui lived in Mumbai had many people struggling like him. In the room next to his was a boy named Nirmal Das. Nawazuddin was good friends with him. At that time, Nirmal Das was in talks to play the role of a terrorist in the film Sarfarosh, but on the day the casting people came looking for him, he wasn’t in his room. Nawazuddin Siddiqui was walking around nearby. When Nirmal Das couldn’t be found, the casting people stopped Nawazuddin and asked if he would audition for a film.
Nawazuddin, who had been eagerly waiting for this day, how could he refuse? He immediately said yes, and then his audition was taken at director John Matthew’s house, and he was selected. In the film, he played a role of less than 1 minute, in which Aamir Khan takes him into custody. At that time, everyone ignored him; no one even knew his name. But today, watching the film, everyone who sees that scene definitely says – look, that’s Nawazuddin.
Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the film Sarfarosh.
The Nirmal Das whose sudden disappearance led to Nawazuddin Siddiqui getting work in Sarfarosh remained missing for years. No one saw him. Then years later it was discovered that he had gone mad.
Similarly, Nawazuddin had also worked in the 2000 film Jungle, but almost all his scenes were cut. He didn’t receive his fee for the film, so he would recover his fee by eating food on set every day.
Watch some selected roles of Nawazuddin Siddiqui-
Film- Gangs of Wasseypur.
Film- Talaash.
Film- Miss Lovely.
Film- Kick.
Film- Majhi: The Mountain Man.
Film- Bajrangi Bhaijaan.
Story- 8
Went to show his film to friends, when scenes were cut, he stood there and cried
While struggling for a long time in Mumbai, Nawazuddin Siddiqui got a small role of a terrorist in Aamir Khan’s film Sarfarosh. He thought that if he kept getting small roles, it would cover his living and food expenses. He got very little money. After this, he got a good role in Kamal Haasan’s film Hey Ram. When the screening of the film was arranged, Nawazuddin took 5 of his friends along. Getting a big role was a big deal for him.
When Nawaz arrived, director-producer Kamal Haasan came up to him and said- ‘Nawaz, tell your friends that your role has been cut.’
Nawaz got nervous and said- ‘Sir, what are you saying, I have brought my friends along. Can’t something be done? You do one thing, show my scenes to the people sitting here, you can remove them from the film later. Please sir, I will be very embarrassed.’
Kamal Haasan said- ‘No, that cannot happen, the film is releasing tomorrow itself. We cannot do that, but you honestly tell your friends.’
As soon as Nawaz reached his friends, everyone excitedly started asking, ‘Hey, what did you talk about with your director?’ Hearing this, Nawaz broke down crying. He said to his friends while crying – ‘My role has been cut. You all decide whether we should watch the film now or not.’
Everyone decided that since they had come, they might as well watch the film.
Story – 9
Didn’t have rent money, so senior gave him a place by making him a cook
Nawazuddin’s survival became difficult with small roles. In 2002, there came a time when he didn’t even have money for rent. When Nawazuddin asked his NSD seniors for a place to stay, they put forth a condition that they would allow him to stay in the room for free, but in return, he would have to cook food for everyone. Nawazuddin agreed and continued living there doing household work.
Story-10
Copied friend in film, then friend didn’t get work
During his struggling days, Nawazuddin Siddiqui had a friend named Ghanshyam. Ghanshyam had a stutter and his body language was also quite different. When Nawazuddin got work in The Lunchbox after small roles, he portrayed it just like Ghanshyam. When The Lunchbox was released, Nawazuddin had shifted to a different flat. After watching the film, his friend messaged saying- ‘I watched The Lunchbox, thank you.’ Some time later, it so happened that whenever Ghanshyam went for auditions, he was refused saying that this role has already been done by Nawazuddin.
And that friend, frustrated after rejection, would say, ‘No, I am the original, he copies me.’ But no one would believe him and would chase him away.
A look at Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s career-
- After making his debut with Sarfarosh, Nawazuddin did many films like Shool, Bypass, Munna Bhai MBBS, Aaja Nachle, Black Friday, New York.
- Nawazuddin gained recognition from Peepli Live, but he achieved stardom with 2012’s Gangs of Wasseypur. He also received his first award nomination for this film. Nawazuddin received 2 Best Supporting Actor awards for the film The Lunchbox.
- So far, Nawazuddin Siddiqui has received 22 awards in different categories.
- He has played lead roles in films like Manto, Photograph and Motichoor Chaknachoor.
- Nawazuddin Siddiqui has also been part of series and films that came on OTT like Sacred Games, Raat Akeli Hai.
- Nawazuddin will also be seen in the films Section 108, Noorani Chehra, Sangeen and The Greater Scape: Faraar releasing this year.