MUMBAI: Acclaimed Bollywood actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui has opened up about the surreal turning point in his career following the release of Anurag Kashyap’s gritty crime drama Gangs of Wasseypur 2 in 2012. While the film cemented his place in the industry and finally made him feel like a "star," it also brought an unprecedented flood of commercial offers that could easily have derailed a less grounded performer.
In a recent interview, Nawazuddin recalled being inundated with nearly 200 scripts right after the film hit screens.
Recalling the overwhelming phase, the actor shared, "After the release of Gangs of Wasseypur 2, I received at least 200 scripts. Blank cheques were lying on my table. People would say, 'Here's the script, and here's a blank cheque. Write whatever amount you wa
However, instead of capitalizing on the sudden fame or signing projects for quick financial gains, Siddiqui made the bold choice to reject every single one of them.
"I didn't pick up a single one of those scripts because I didn't like any of them. I decided I would wait for the right one," Nawazuddin said.
Drawing from his grueling years of struggle and waiting in the margins of Bollywood before landing his breakthrough role as Faizal Khan, the actor noted that patience had long become second nature to him.
"I was already used to waiting for work for years, so I thought I could wait another two or three years rather than sign something in haste," he explained.
Fortunately, his unwavering dedication to his craft paid off. Siddiqui shared that he didn't have to wait quite that long, as quality scripts matching his artistic vision soon began to find their way to him.
