Talented Indian actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui was in the UK recently for India Global Forum’s 3rd Culture and Creative Economies Forum, where he regaled audiences with anecdotes from his career.
Speaking about filming ‘McMafia’, a British crime drama television series, Siddiqui shared: “The best part of shooting for ‘McMafia’ and working with a British production was the unusual silence on set. There is a huge difference in an actor’s performance without noise.
“I feel I can’t give my best in noisy sets in India… This is impossible in Bollywood, where crews are relatively large, although I did try to implement it back home!”
The award-winning actor known for his versatility and power-packed performances also narrated the challenges of making ‘Haddi’, a film where he portrays a transgender woman.
"In our country, biopics often glorify everything, which is painful. I feel that some mistakes should also be shown, which we usually fail to depict. Now I have become a bit more careful; whenever a biopic comes up, I ask them to tell me what the flaws were in the character. First, I see the script, otherwise I don't do it," he noted.
Reflecting on his experience with the film ‘Raman Raghav 2.0’, Siddiqui described the psychological intensity of his role: "It took me five days to fully believe in the character, but getting out of it was even more challenging."
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Spending time with friends in his hometown and their ridicule helped him detach from the character and return to normalcy, he joked.
Part of IGF London 2024, the third edition of the forum last week brought together leading voices from film & TV, fashion, literature, sports and the creator economy to the Fairmont Windsor Park to explore new pathways for growth that creative innovation can unlock. With discussions ranging from the impact of AI on storytelling to the convergence of virtual reality and animation, the Forum explored the intersection of technology and art and the future trajectory of the industry.
*Info: India Global Forum