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Nawazuddin Siddiqui on his acting process: 'Was hospitalised, yet reciting dialogues from Psycho Raman'

Nawazuddin Siddiqui reveals the intense mental and physical prep behind roles in Talaash, Gangs of Wasseypur, and Psycho Raman, showing his deep commitment to transformative acting.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui on his acting process: 'Was hospitalised, yet reciting dialogues from Psycho Raman'

Nawazuddin Siddiqui/Instagram

Last Updated: 05.25 PM, May 13, 2025

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Many consider Nawazuddin Siddiqui to be the most adaptable actor working in Indian cinema now. Films like Gangs of Wasseypur, Talaash, Psycho Raman, and Mom feature his many outstanding performances throughout the years. The actor recently spoke with Just Too Filmy about the work that goes into his performances, describing the mental and physical changes he goes through as he plays different roles.

Physical transformation for Talaash

Nawaz discussed how much he changed his physical appearance to play the role of Tehmur Langda in the 2012 film Talaash in an interview. He claimed that he changed his physique to play the character. In addition to moving at a breakneck pace and limping, the film's protagonist also has large, expressive eyes when he speaks. The actor usually keeps his cool, but he had to bring these things into the role.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui in a still from Talaash
Nawazuddin Siddiqui in a still from Talaash

Even Nawaz's breakout performance as Faisal Khan in Gangs of Wasseypur brought back memories of his preparation for the role. He went into detail about his unusual use of glycerin to amp up the agony and intensity of his performance. According to him, if he were in pain, he would put glycerin in his eyes so they would turn red and show signs of pain.

Extreme method acting in Psycho Raman

The production of Psycho Raman brought about a more dramatic and disturbing shift in Nawaz's preparation. The part of a serial killer he performed in the Anurag Kashyap film was physically and mentally taxing for him. Psycho Raman set the actor on a path to illness, and he ended up in the hospital. The hospital transported him after he passed out on set. Nawaz would even quote lines from the movie while he lay in the hospital bed; he was that engrossed in the character. People around him informed him that he was doing this, but he didn't know it. Nawaz mentioned that doctors had cautioned him to take care of himself and step out of his character if he didn't.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui in a still from Raman Raghav 2.0
Nawazuddin Siddiqui in a still from Raman Raghav 2.0

Nawazuddin continues to pursue challenging roles despite these emotionally and physically draining experiences. Costao (ZEE5) was his most recent film appearance; the film got mixed reviews overall, but he got mostly positive reviews for his role. Afterwards, Raat Akeli Hai 2—Nawaz's next film—is set to premiere on Netflix.