I will only play lead roles henceforth - Nawazuddin Siddiqui

Looks like the very talented Nawazzudin Siddiqui has had enough playing supporting characters in movies. We suspected this was coming soon especially after watching Nawazuddin’s demeanour at the press conference of The Lunchbox. His body language really didn’t suggest that he was happy being a part of a movie in which he was playing second fiddle to the acclaimed Irrfan Khan. We even tried asking him the reason behind accepting a supporting role to which Nawazzudin gave us a rather evasive answer. “I have answered this query long time back.” We didn’t think of pursuing it then as it was not the appropriate platform given the presence of Karan Johar and other distinguished guests. However, when we recently caught up with Nawaz at a film school where he was invited as a guest lecturer, we couldn’t help but ask him the question again. And this time Nawaz made sure that he gave us the right answer. You have put up a brilliant performance in The Lunchbox but you are not playing the lead in it. Would you still sign movies where you cast as a supporting actor? Absolutely not. Henceforth I will do only lead roles. Is baat ko lekar main abhi zidd ada hoon (I am stubborn about this decision of mine). Apart from The Lunchbox, there are two other films in which I have a supporting role. These are movies which I had signed before Gangs of Wasseypur. But going forward, I will only star in lead roles. What’s reason behind this stubbornness? There are many reasons for the same. One being, people don’t think that a person like me can also do lead roles. I have also told earlier that I want to be the highest paid actor. You see in our country, actors are not paid money only stars are. Sometimes a so-called star is paid a huge sum in spite of them not having acted in a single film before. There should be a reason why a star is being paid an obscene amount of money (pauses) Go on… You see, in our industry if there is a good actor people will say ‘Here is a good actor. Let’s give him a supporting role.’ And once you are given a supporting role, you get tagged for life. You tell me why can’t a good actor do a lead role? What’s lacking in him? Why he has to portray only supporting characters? There are so many good actors in our industry and I feel every good actor can do a lead role. As an actor, what do you value more? Critical acclaim or commercial success? Neither. I am not in search of either commercial or critical acclaim. Acting is a process for me. I really don’t care if critics are applauding my performance or whether my film is collecting money. I am more interested in seeing and discovering whether I can play a particular character that has been assigned to me. These days the race to the 100 crore club has intensified. What’s your take on the same? This 100 crore thing is not something that should concern an actor. An actor should focus on his acting instead because that is the job he is expected to do. Nothing else. Period. You have made it big on your own without a Godfather. But it has taken way too long. What advice would you give to other struggling actors? (Thinks) See, it’s a very competitive field. The time it takes to get a break is really unpredictable. It can at times get difficult to make ends meet when there is no work. I have went through all this and had even though of quitting. But finally if a person has the khujli (itch) to make it big, he will see his dream becoming successful, no matter what. So stay focused and determined would be my advice. You had earlier mentioned about your liking for international cinema. Would you be interested in offers from Hollywood? Yes, only if it’s a nice substantial role. If it’s an itsy-bitsy role then there is no way I will accept it. There are some actors from our country who willingly take up roles that are nothing but miniscule just to get that Hollywood tag. I would say ‘No Thanks’ to such inconsequential roles.