In an insightful session at Filmfare’s Actor Roundtable featuring Manoj Bajpayee and Jaideep Ahlawat alongside him, Nawazuddin Siddiqui opened up about the intensely personal nature of acting, revealing what he calls the “truth of an actor.” He confessed, “An actor’s truth is so personal that only someone who truly knows can understand it,” underscoring the importance of intensive training programs and film appreciation courses that help actors tap into their own hidden emotional reserves.Nawazuddin illustrated this truth through a defining moment in his career, a modest yet weighty scene in The Lunchbox. He recalls standing opposite the late Irrfan Khan and sensing the enormity of the task ahead. He felt a surge of doubt as he prepared for the scene but reminded himself, “I must become completely honest.” That resolve marked a pivotal shift, he believed, “acting is believing… I believed I had reached there for that second,” and as a result, the authenticity of his performance resonated with audiences and the industry alike.
He emphasised that honesty on screen isn’t just impactful it demands a response from fellow actors. “There is nothing greater than honesty… no matter how big the other actor is… if you are honest, the person in front has to respond.” Nawazuddin’s willingness to be truly vulnerable, even in small scenes, forces a truthful exchange and elevates the film’s emotional depth.
His perspective resonated strongly with Bajpayee and Ahlawat at the roundtable. Both echoed the challenge Nawazuddin described: sustaining that emotional bar requires immense discipline and ongoing self-awareness, particularly under the scrutiny that comes with public performance.
The Lunchbox remains a landmark for Nawazuddin, a film that earned him the Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award and became an international success, proving that even brief, honest moments can define an actor’s journey. From that scene, he has continued to select roles grounded in authenticity, whether in the soulful Photograph or the socially incisive Serious Men, always choosing depth over spectacle.In that room, Nawazuddin reminded his peers and audiences that true acting is never about grand gestures or flashy sequences. It’s about the quiet courage to stand bare on camera, to evoke belief within oneself, and to trust that honesty, no matter how fleeting, will speak louder than any performance. That, he believes, is the essence of being an actor.
See Also: Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s Wife Aaliya Siddiqui Clears the Air Around Demanding Alimony
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