When you settle in for a Nawazuddin Siddiqui movie, you can be assured that it will be anything but run-of-the-mill. In 2020, the actor gave us a moody murder mystery in Raat Akeli Hai, a comedy in Ghoomketu, and some food for thought in Serious Men. As the shrewd Ayyan Mani who will go to any lengths to build a better life for his son in the satire, Siddiqui showed us again why he is considered one of the finest actors of his generation, and became a contender for the Best Actor (Film) nod at the upcoming mid-day and Radio City Hitlist OTT Awards.

Siddiqui, on his part, gives credit to the source material — Manu Joseph’s biting satire of the same name — and director Sudhir Mishra’s vision. “It’s a complicated yet interesting novel; the way Sudhir adapted it and Bhavesh [Mandalia, one of the writers] wrote it was commendable. Sudhir [beautifully explored] the idea of a father who couldn’t achieve much in life and wanted his son to do better. This happens everywhere in our society,” he says.