New Delhi: Nawazuddin Siddiqui has received the National Award in Special Jury Award category for his performances in 'Kahaani', 'Gangs of Wasseypur', 'Talaash' and 'Dekh Indian Circus'. In a candid chat with IBNLive, he talks about the first rush of elation after he heard the news and his forthcoming supernatural drama 'Aatma'.
Q: What was your first reaction after getting the National Award?
A: I couldn't believe it; I didn't even know which of my films have been sent to the jury of National Awards. It was totally unexpected when I actually got it.
Q: Being nominated for four films is not a simple thing.
A: Yes, it was thrilling. It means a lot to me. National Award is special in every sense. It brings some changes as well, respectability comes with it, people start to take you seriously. It refreshes you as an actor, I have started working with the same energy that I used to have 10 years ago.
Q: Prestige and respect are directly associated with the National Awards
A: Absolutely, National Awards are very prestigious. It's different from other awards, every actor wants to get the National Award. It's the dream of every actor. It's not like you come and dance and get an award.
Q: But the Hindi film industry is known for making films for money rather than acclaim.
A: Let them make such films, we can't stop them. In any case, National Awards are meant to bring good talents forward. This is evident in this year's selections, however it also depends on the jury.
Q: Critically acclaimed films can receive commercial success as well.
A: You are very correct, earlier it was like that but all three of my films have been commercially successful. See, it is affecting the industry; these films are critically acclaimed, getting prestigious awards and earning money at the box office. And it's the same industry which is producing all these films. You don't work with keeping National Awards in mind but if you get then it brings immense joy.
Q: Vidya got the National Award and then 'Kahaani' made it big. Is the same going to happen with 'Aatma'?
A: (Laughs) I wish this to happen. Suparn has made a smart film which has the potential of breaking all the stereotypes about horror films in the viewer's mind. Devices and ideas have been used judiciously to make a sleek and intelligent film.
Q: What's the content of 'Aatma'? Are we going to witness a regular horror drama?
A: Actually, 'Aatma' is a very different than usual horror films because of two reasons. First, director Suparn Verma has focussed on the emotional bonding among three people of a family, and second it has many elements of our daily lives. You won't find anything like typical 'bhoot-pret' or hamming stuff in it.
'Aatma' is a performance based film like what I do or what Bipasha does in other films, there is no 'over the top' acting from any of us including the child Doyel.
Q: So, it's more like a relationship drama.
A: My character is a common man who does a normal 9 to 5 job but he is as emotional as any other father would be. Today we see a lot of matrimonial disputes and court battles to take the child's custody. My character loves his daughter like anything and wants to be with her at any cost. It forms an emotional triangle among the father, the mother and the daughter. It's a very real character.
Q: How important is the actor's emotional involvement with the film?
A: See, if an actor is saying yes to a role then it means he or she is connecting to it at one level. I also have a two year old daughter, so I immediately connected to the story when Suparn gave me the narration. Suppose something happens in a father's life and he loses his daughter or they get separated due to any reason, what will you do in that situation, so I felt emotionally connected to the role and decided to do it.
I saw 'Aatma' a few days back, and I am not saying this because it's my film, you won't be able to get up from your seat once the first frame is on screen.
Q: Actors come with their own baggage. Bipasha Basu holds a different image among viewers, and you're playing the male lead opposite her, so were there any pre-conceived notions?
A: There has always been a tendency of tagging actors with certain images, this is a little discomforting. People brand actors or films as commercial, parallel or art and this is a bit problematic to me. I also had the same image of Bipasha in my mind that she is a glamorous model and actress but when I worked with her I realised about my misconception. She is not less talented than any other actor.
Q: You too have a distinct image.
A: This is our way of looking at things that we categories actors in a certain manner, like people think that I can't do romantic roles or I can do gritty roles only, but this is not true. As an actor, I am equally committed to any role.
I have done a variety of roles and you are asking this because I have done those films. A star comes and does more than 150 films on the same theme of love but nobody questions them. An actor gets excited by the fact the he is getting the opportunity to do films of different genres. There is no point in just changing the character's name.
Q: In which film we are going to see you again after 'Aatma'?
A: Very soon I will be going to Kolkata to shoot Buddhadeb Dasgupta's film.
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