7 performances of Nawazuddin Siddiqui tha deserve a rewatch

Thackeray (2019)

He mirrored Thackeray’s oratory style, mannerisms, and steely gaze with uncanny accuracy, while avoiding caricature.

Manto (2018)

Nawaz’s ability to balance fragility with fire made this performance one of the most layered portrayals of a historical figure in Indian cinema.

Kahaani (2012)

Nawaz played Khan with awe-inspiring precision, layering the character with bureaucratic arrogance and flashes of vulnerability.

Raat Akeli Hai (2020)

Balancing his no-nonsense cop persona with moments of tenderness and moral conflict, Nawaz made Jatil deeply relatable.

Photograph (2019)

Nawazuddin delivered one of his most delicate performances, playing Rafi, a struggling street photographer.

Manjhi – The Mountain Man (2015)

It was a performance that demanded physical grit and emotional honesty. Nawaz captured Manjhi’s madness, humor, love, and unshakable belief in impossible dreams

Talaash: The Answer Lies Within (2012)

Nawaz infused Tehmur with equal parts desperation and dignity, creating a character so lived-in that audiences carried his final moments long after the credits