Real-life characters that Nawazuddin Siddiqui essayed on screen

Known for his exceptional acting skills, Bollywood actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui has mesmerised fans over the years. After a long struggle in Bollywood, he has now gained popularity among the masses solely through his dedication to the craft and the brilliance in his work. Lending life to diverse and challenging roles, from humour to gruesome, the actor has taken up every kind of role there is and put his heart and soul into them.

Portraying real-life characters though is an uphill task, but the Gangs of Wasseypur actor has done justice to every such role he has played so far. From the characters’ body language to the manner of speaking, he has embodied it all in his acting.

Here are some real-life characters that the star had portrayed with great precision:

Dashrath Manjhi

Manjhi - The Mountain Man was one of the most difficult roles played by Nawazuddin. Chronicling the life of a labourer right from his youth to his old age, he portrayed the role with great skill. From matching the accent to delivering heart-wrenching emotional monologues, the actor was spot on in his performance.

Saadat Hasan Manto

The role of the renowned writer was played by Nawazuddin in his biopic Manto. He brilliantly essayed the challenging role of the drunk, troubled and controversial writer, in the film based on his life experiences during the partition of 1947.

Chand Nawab

In Salman Khan’s Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Nawazuddin was not just capable of grabbing the fans’ attention through his acting but also did a tremendous job in bringing life to the role of the news reporter. Chand Nawab, the news reporter that the actor plays in the movie is based on a real-life Pakistani journalist by the same name. Nawaz did an exceptional job in his uncanny imitation of the journalist, matching all his mannerisms.

Bal Thackeray

Nawazuddin essayed the role of political heavyweight Balasaheb Thackrey in the movie Thackeray. From his apt dialogue delivery to his precise expressions and gestures, the actor justified his casting and also called the role a “once-in-a-lifetime experience”.

Faisal Khan

The role that changed it all for Nawazuddin, Faisal Khan from Gangs of Wasseypur was inspired by real-life mafia don, Faheem Khan. His acting and performance won over fans. Showcasing his wide range of skills, from being gruesome to sweet, from being clueless to vengeful, Nawazuddin’s performance in this role was a class apart.

Motiram Jatav

In Paan Singh Tomar’s biopic, Nawazuddin played the supporting role of Gopi. The character was loosely based on the real-life character of Motiram Jatav, a Dalit man who tipped off the police about Tomar’s whereabouts leading to his eventual encounter. Siddiqui, portraying Jatav’s role in the biopic, played the character with much ease. Playing the role of an angry Dalit man, the actor managed to give an exceptional performance.