Even before its release, Nawazuddin Siddiqui-starrer, Babumoshai Bandookbaaz had created a buzz. Despite being a small budget project (Rs 5 crore), Nawaz's role had lent the film a certain kind of star value. A day after the release of Babumoshai, though not all critics and reviewers have been kind, Nawaz certainly has left an indelible mark again. "I am feeling good and more confident about myself," he tells Indulge, in an exclusive chat. "Whether small budget or a big budget film I will put in the same amount of effort and hard work. I look at the character that's offered to me. If it excites me, I will act in the film. It's the excitement that matters most," he adds. Certainly his dedication and hard work reflects on screen when he plays the badass contract killer Babu.
Though so far, Nawaz has played some memorable characters, his most-anticipated role is yet to hit the big screens. Nandita Dasis Manto, in which Nawaz plays the titular role, is now in the post- production stage and will release early next year. "I am really looking forward to Manto. He was a brilliant writer, who was always in the light of controversy. He used to pen stories about what he saw in the society. I was able to relate to the character because he always spoke the truth and was upright when it came to writing about social issues," offers Nawaz.
This film too had created some noise online, earlier this year, when a prelude (a short film) to the film was released on YouTube. Nawaz as Manto was seen talking to a class of students about his writing. For the actor though, his most memorable scene from the film is, "The court scene," he says. "Manto's stories are charged with obscenity and vulgarity and he is being questioned in the courtroom. At that point he tells the judge, main kyun samaj ko kapde pehnane ki koshish karoon (why should I attempt to dress the society with words) - this dialogue really touched my heart. It's because of such bold and unapologetic writing and approach that Manto is still relevant today, though he was a writer in the 1940s. I think everybody relates to Manto's character because he always said the right thing," signs off Nawaz.