MUMBAI: Nawazuddin Siddiqui is known far and wide for his impeccable screen presence and realistic acting, but one thing the actor’s fans really praise him for is his need to speak his truth regardless of the consequences.
During an interview, the actor was asked about his experience of playing Manto, and how many difficulties he came across when delving into reel from real life.
To this Nawaz replied;
“There are times when I’m so immersed in a role; I cease to be a part of the real world. Physically I’m there, but mentally I’ve zoned out. At such times if my wife and children want my time, I’m lost to them.”
He added saying that he saw a reflection of himself in Manto’s character and it was not an easy feat to come to terms with.
“I had no idea till then that Manto had been an alcoholic and was so prolific he could write a story while being jostled in a crowd. I also didn’t know about the obscenity cases against him or that he was quite the family man.”
Nawaz was known to be blunt and straight forward with his opinions in the early day but gradually that streak came to a halt. When questioned about the change of perspective he said;
“If you read the interviews I gave in 2012, you will see that I said what I thought. But then I began to realise that mere sach bolne se problem ho rahi hai so I began manipulating the truth. I’d say what was permissible, what people wanted to hear, till I entered the Manto zone.”
Manto spoke the truth fearlessly and often brutally, and that got him into trouble, that is where Nawaz found similarities with Manto’s life.
“After Manto I kept the streak going for about two-three months, I was back to speaking the truth without embellishments. But society can be very judgmental, people started saying, he’s done all this, he must be a really dirty guy, kitna kharab insaan hai. It didn’t matter that I had admitted to certain shortcomings myself. I wasn’t appreciated for my honesty. Instead, my confessions went against me. So, I figured there was no point in spoiling my public image when I was getting work — mujhe jhooth bolna chahiye.”
But this change of perspective and shift in ideology comes with a heavy conscience.
“But all this political correctness makes me feel terribly guilty. When I am alone, I reprimand myself for all the lies I’ve told so that logon ke samne meri achchi image bani rahe. What to do.”
“Zamana yehi sunna chahta hai.”
