As a child, Nawazuddin was quick to mimic an acquaintance he met just a few minutes back. He always had a keen observation and could predict how a person would act and react in a particular situation. He started getting adjudged as an insightful child amidst a huge joint farmer family. He adored a girl in his village who always fancied wedding band players and performers. Nawazuddin was carried away by the girls, interests and followed her to the performances. Way back in 1970s, where the only source of entertainment in his village used to be village carnivals, folk performances and festivals, Nawazuddin couldn’t resist admiring the power of the performers which could assimilate one and all of the village at a time and give them opportunity to laugh, cry, dance and above all entertain them. He always thought he could perform better than them. When Television made its debut in his village, the villagers including his love interest started flocking towards a single TV screen. He wanted to be admired by his beloved in the same way she admired the actors on TV.

This desire was thriving during his graduation, became fierce during his early jobs and finally landed him at National School of Drama (NSD), Delhi. At NSD, he was popular as a humor artist. His character as ‘Borkin‘ for the play Ivano written by Chekov won him accolades as a versatile actor. He kept his passion alive by doing street plays and was in constant endeavor to explore his skills for suitable roles. During his struggle phase, Nawazuddin came to know about his beloved who was married to a man double her age with 6 kids and was restricted from watching Television and taking resort to any forms of entertainment. He was quite disappointed with society?s hierarchy and felt women should fight for their emancipation.

His initial days of struggle in Mumbai tested his passion and patience for acting. He did television, short films and small roles in Bollywood movies. He no longer wanted to get typecast and was on constant lookout for right opportunity to showcase his potential. He got his first breakthrough with ?Black Friday?. Followed by series of small yet substantial roles in films like Firaq, Peepli Live, New York and Kahaani.

Nawazuddin is now very selective about his roles and believes in moving steadily albeit rebelliously. He is busy working on many interesting projects in Indian and global cinema.

Movies Done by Nawazuddin Siddiqui

1999 Sarfarosh Terrorist / Informer
1999 Shool Waiter
2000 Jungle Khabri (messenger)
2000 Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar As one of the leaders of Second Mahad Satyagraha and in background of Manusmriti Dahan
2003 The Bypass First bandit London film festival / Milan film festival
2003 Mudda – The Issue Cameo appearance
2003 Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. Pickpocketer
2006 Family Nawaz
2007 Aaja Nachle
2007 Ek Chalis Ki Last Local Ponnappa’s brother
2007 Manorama Six Feet Under Local goon
2007 Black Friday Asgar Mukadam
2008 Black & White Tahir Tayyabuddin
2009 Firaaq Hanif
2009 New York Zilgai
2009 Dev.D Singer at wedding Special appearance in song “Emotional”
2010 Peepli Live Rakesh Kapoor
2011 Dekh Indian Circus Jethu National Film Award – Special Jury Award / Special Mention (Feature Film) (also for Talaash, Gangs of Wasseypur and Kahaani)National film award for best children’s film Puson international film festival/ Tiburon film festival
2012 Kahaani IB Officer A. Khan
2012 Patang Chakkku Premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival
2012 Paan Singh Tomar Gopi
2012 Gangs of Wasseypur – Part 1 Faizal Khan Lions Favorite Actor
2012 Gangs of Wasseypur – Part 2
2012 Chittagong Nirmal Sen
2012 Talaash: The Answer Lies Within Taimur Asian Film Award for Best Supporting Actor
2012 Miss Lovely Sonu Duggal Cannes Film Festival
2013 Aatma – Feel It Around You Abhay
2013 Bombay Talkies Purandar
2013 Shorts Unnamed
2013 Anwar Ka Ajab Kissa Anwar
2014 Kick Shiv Gajra
2015 Lateef Lateef
2015 Badlapur Liak
2015 Bajrangi Bhaijaan Chand Nawab
2015 Manjhi – The Mountain Man Dashrath Manjhi
2016 Raman Raghav 2.0 Ramanna Siddiqui won the best performance by an actor in the Asia Pacific Screen Awards and Official Jury prize (best actor) by FANCINE festival de cine Fantastico de la Universidad de Malaga
2016 Te3n Father Martin Das
2016 Lion Rama Lion received six Oscar nominations at the 89th Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay.
2016 Freaky Ali Ali
2017 Haraamkhor Shyam
2017 Raees SP Jaideep Ambalal Majmudar
2017 In Defence of Freedom Saadat Hasan Manto Short film
2017 Mom Daya Shankar “DK” Kapoor
2017 Munna Michael Mahinder Fauji
2017 Babumoshai Bandookbaaz Babu Bihari
2017 Carbon: The Story of Tomorrow Man from Mars Short film
2018 Mukkabaaz Himself Guest appearance in song “Mushkil Hai Apna Meil Priye”
2018 Genius Samar Khan
2018 Manto Saadat Hasan Manto Siddiqui won best performance by an actor in the Asia Pacific Screen Awards and the GQ men of the year award.
2019 Petta Singaar Singh / Singaram Tamil film
2019 Thackeray Bal Thackeray
2019 Photograph Rafiullah / ‘Rafi’ Sundance film festival (world premiere) 69th Berlin film festival (European premiere)
2019 Housefull 4 Ramsey Baba
2019 Motichoor Chaknachoor Pushpender Tyagi
2020 Ghoomketu Ghoomketu ZEE5 film
2020 Raat Akeli Hai Jatil Yadav Release on Netfilix on July 31, 2020
2020 Bole Chudiyan Nawab
2020 Serious Men Releasing on Netflix on 2 October

OTT / Webseries Done by Nawazuddin Siddiqui

2018 McMafia Dilly Mahmood BBC One, AMC
2018–2019 Sacred Games Ganesh Gaitonde Netflix EMMY Award Nominee

Award And Nominations Received by Nawazuddin Siddiqui

2012 National Film Awards Talaash: The Answer Lies Within, Kahaani, Gangs of Wasseypur, Dekh Indian Circus Special Jury Award Won
2012 Zee Cine Awards Talaash: The Answer Lies Within Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Male Won
2012 Screen Awards Talaash: The Answer Lies Within Screen Award for Best Supporting Actor Won
2012 Stardust Awards Gangs of Wasseypur Stardust Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated
2012 Asian Film Awards Talaash: The Answer Lies Within Asian Film Award for Best Supporting Actor Won
2012 New York Indian Film Festival Dekh Indian Circus Award for Best ActorWon
2012 GQ Men of the Year Awards 2012 For work done in 2012 Breakthrough Talent Won
2012 Lions Gold Awards 2012 Gangs of Wasseypur Lions Favourite Actor Won
2013 Filmfare Awards The Lunchbox Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor Won
2013 Renault Star Guild Awards The Lunchbox Best Actor In A Supporting Role Won
2015 Filmfare Awards Badlapur Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated
2015 Zee Cine Awards Bajrangi Bhaijaan Zee Cine Award for Best Actor in a Comic Role Won
2015 Badlapur Zee Cine Award for Best Performance in a Negative Role Won
2018 Filmfare Awards Mom Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated
2018 IIFA Awards Best Performance in a Supporting Role (Male) Won
2018 Asia Pacific Screen Awards Manto Best Performance By An Actor Won
2018 IReel Awards Sacred Games Best Actor (Drama) Won
2019 Filmfare Awards Manto Best Actor (Critics) Nominated

International Recognition Received by Nawazuddin Siddiqui

2012 Asian Film Awards Talaash: The answer lies within Asian Film award for best supporting actor Won
2012 “THUMBSUP TROPHY” by Mr.Roger Ebert Patang
2012 NYIFF Dekh Indian Circus Award for best actor Won
2013 Asia Pacific Film Festival The Lunchbox Best Supporting actor Won
2014 Chicago South Asian Film Festival Honored for ‘outstanding achievement’ in cinema Won
2016 FANCINE festival de cine fantastic de la Universidad de la Malaga Raman Raghav 2.0 Official Jury Prize Won
2016 Asia Pacific Screen Awards Raman Raghav 2.0 Best performance by an actor Won
2017 NYIFF Haraamkhor Best Actor Won
2018 Asia Pacific Screen Awards Manto Best performance by an actor Won
2018 IReel Awards Sacred Games Best Actor (Drama) Won
2019 International Emmy Award Sacred Games Best Drama Nominated
2019 International Emmy Award Best Drama Nominated
2019 Cardiff International Film festival Bestowed with the Golden dragon award for excellence in cinema in the global arena
2019 Asian Film Talent award (SIFF) Sacred Games