Was Nawazuddin Siddiqui cast in Costao because of his resemblance to Customs officer? Director Sejal Shah spills the beans

Bollywood has often seen instances where an actor shares a striking resemblance to a real-life personality, he/she plays on-screen. Whether it was late Sushant Singh Rajput turning into Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni in MS Dhoni: The Untold Story or Randeep Hooda getting into the skin of Sarbjit for the movie of the same name, actors looking like the characters they play on screen is not new in Bollywood. A more recent case is that of Nawazuddin Siddiqui, who shares a striking resemblance to the character of Costao Fernandes, whom he plays on-screen in his upcoming movie, Costao. However, that is not the only reason why director Sejal Shah cast the actor in her film. She spills the beans on why Nawazuddin Siddiqui is a part of the movie, and why she waited it out for only Nawazuddin to take up the role, even if it took years...

Sejal Shah on casting Nawazuddin Siddiqui for Costao

While acknowledging that Haddi actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui does share a physical resemblance with the Goa Customs Officer Costao Fernandes, Sejal Shah did share that it was not the reason she cast Nawazuddin for the role. "From the moment we began developing this film, I knew Nawaz was the only actor to bring Costao to life," she said.

Costao Fernandes, from the lens of Sejal Shah

Sejal Shah shared how Costao is not a conventional hero, and thus, she believes that an actor like Nawazuddin Siddiqui is the only one who could do justice to the character. "His complexity and emotional depth demand an actor capable of navigating profound character transformations," Sejal notes, adding that Nawazuddin does not merely play Costao but becomes the character without even a hint of caricature. "I waited years to make this film because only Nawaz could deliver the performance this role required," she said.

The movie, featuring Priya Bapat as the female lead, is the story revolving around the Customs officer who fought against smuggling and corruption in Goa. It will start streaming on Zee5 (can be streamed via your OTTplay Premium subscription) from May 1, 2025.