Nawazuddin Siddiqui- Mountain Man Of Bollywood

Dashrath Manjhi, well known as ‘mountain man’ had struggled 22 years with hammer and chisel to carve a way out of rocks. With his determination he eventually got the government to make a road across two villages. On the same account Nawazudddin Siddiqui, who portrays the role of Dashrath Manjhi, can be considered as the ‘Mountain Man’ of Bollywood because it took him 13 years to gain the name and fame which he deserves. He left for Delhi in search of a job after his graduation and instantly he became a watchman of a theater and started to watch plays. Then he joined the National School of Drama and did his debut with ‘Sarfarosh’ in 1999. Later he got a small role in ‘Jungle’ (2000).

After this his actual struggle began and in 2004, he didn’t have any money to pay rent. Anyhow, he managed his living through hanging out at film studios and shootings to get stereotypical roles only; he even worked as a spot boy to earn his bread. Whenever he showed his desire for important roles, he was continuously rejected by several directors owing to his dark complexion and unfit face. Rejection had become his friend. Between “2002-05”, he was mostly out of work and survived by conducting occasional acting workshops. ‘After winter comes the spring’- set in the course of life of Nawazuddin Siddiqui, justified his mother’s saying- “Even the place of litters changes in the course of time; you are a human being.” His presence in ‘Black Friday’ (2007) made his ways for other cardinal roles, eventually finding his first lead role in ‘Patang’ (The Kite) in 2012 for which his natural performance has been praised by many international critics.

After this he worked in two more films. He was mainly noticed in ‘New York’ by us and further in ‘Peepli Live’ that gave him recognition as an actor. He welcomed praises, criticism, scripts and love, all of which make for the project ingredient of his being. While the posters of his now big films were plastered all over Mumbai, the real Nawaz was much different to the characters he played on-screen. Then he rose among all his contemporaries and got offers of films back to back. He did a role of a businessman in the Salman Khan starring movie ‘Kick’ (2014). Further he played a role of a reporter in ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ (2015). He got the award for the ‘Best Actor’ at the prestigious event of the New York Indian Film Festival, for the movie ‘Dekh Indian Circus’. Nawazuddin Siddiqui is a man who can hold everyone’s attention; who can make people laugh, cry and dance; a man who can simply entertain. His lead role in ‘Gangs of Wassepur’ was highly praised.

He was praised for his deliverance of dialogues and his violent expression of a villainous hero. No one had expected this much from him and this thought of under expectation made his success more than any other actor’s. He is also known for his tremendous role in “Manjhi- The Mountain Man”. He has done an original role a man who is determined to tear a huge mountain keeping the thought of ’revenge’ in mind. Many Bollywood actors salute him for his grounded role. Nawazuddin Siddiqui is the ideal story of going from rags to riches. He is a great actor which has been proved by his acting prowess and versatility. He got the National Film Award in 2012 for five films he that he acted in. He has been struggling for many years of his young life but he always took these struggles in his stride and made them the stepping stones to his success, considering himself as the ‘Mountain Man of Bollywood’.