Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s Unforgettable First Day on the Gangs of Wasseypur Set: Anurag Kashyap’s Scolding and Sleepless Nights
Nawazuddin Siddiqui, a talented actor known for his versatile performances revealed his admiration for Hollywood legends Robert De Niro and Al Pacino. He was so inspired by them that after landing his breakthrough role in “Gangs of Wasseypur,” he started emulating De Niro and Pacino’s mannerisms. Nawazuddin even went to the extent of adopting their sleeping habits during his training.
During an interview with Mashable India, Nawazuddin confessed that went through a phase where he acted like his idols for about 3-4 months. He even spoke and slept like them, during which his acting teacher cautioned him against adopting such behaviour. However, on the first day of filming Gangs of Wasseypur, he fully embraced his Al Pacino persona, even imitating his way of speaking. Unfortunately, filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, the film’s director, was not pleased with Nawazuddin’s performance and he scolded him for imitating Al Pacino, leaving the actor disheartened.
Recalling the incident, Nawazuddin mentioned that Anurag Kashyap’s admonishment left a strong impact on him. He abandoned his Al Pacino facade overnight, which caused him to have a sleepless night. The next morning, he arrived on set as himself, Nawazuddin, determined to let go of the imitation.
Through this experience, Nawazuddin realized that he couldn’t simply “play” a powerful character. Instead, he understood the importance of being authentic and drawing on his energy to portray a genuine presence on the screen. Anurag Kashyap had advised him that he didn’t need to showcase power explicitly because the aura of danger would naturally emanate when he remained true to himself.
Nawazuddin is currently starring in “Tiku Weds Sheru,” a Prime Video production. This year, audiences can look forward to seeing him in several upcoming releases, including “Jogira Sara Ra Ra” and Sudhir Mishra’s “Afwaah.” With his talent and dedication to his craft, Nawazuddin continues to make his mark in the film industry.
