Raees is Shah Rukh Khans best performance Nawazuddin Siddiqui

28 Jan 2017

NawazuddinSiddiquiis said to have given ascene stealingperformance inRahulDholakias Raees.But the actor, who has climbed from strength to strength during the last few years, isnt buying any of that praise. I dont think about the compliments. If I did, Id become a smug actor who thinks he knows it all. ShahRukh Khan is brilliant in Raees.There are very few actors with whom Ive managed such a fabulous rapport. Both ShahRukhand I are from a theatre background. In our performances youll see a lot of unspoken emotions. In theatre the actors and the audience have to constantly read between the lines. Thats the kind of performance weve given in Raees.There is no playing to the galleries, no attempt at one-upmanship. Were totally in character, saysNawazwho has worked with all three Khan superstars. MereliyeyehteenonKhan badekaamkecheezrahenhain (the three Khans have been very useful to my career). WithAamirI did a small part in my very first film Sarfarosh.After that Talaash was a turning point for me. After that came Salman and Bajrangi Bhaijaan which got me a lot of acclaim. Now lets see what Raees with ShahRukhKhan brings for me. Not thatNawazis on tenterhooks. Ive already moved on from Raees.I am fully into preparation forNandita Dass bio-pic on the Urdu literary giant SadatHassanManto. Theres a speech of Mantos which Ive been reading over and over again to get a grip over the character. Then in Chanda Mama DoorKe I play an astronaut for the first time.actually I cant think of any other actor who had played an astronaut. These are the two films Ive said yes to and Ill be shooting them this year. ShahRukhKhan has commented on how expressiveNawazs eyes are. Nawazshrugs off the compliment. I dont think about the praise. I dont want to consider how expressive my eyes are. Ive seen actors over-using their eyes after theyve been praised for their eyes. I dont want to consider the praise. I dont want any of it to go to my head. I want to wake up every morning and see each day as struggle. Nawazsays he is uncomfortable with all the attention hes getting these days. I just want to do my work and come home. Promoting films, interacting with the media are not things I enjoy. I am not a star. I am an actor. His last release Haraamkhor again gotNawaza truckload of praise. The film didnt create anybox officeimpact. Actually, Haraamkhor did make money,Nawazcorrects me. We made the film for Rs 70lakhsand the film has been sold for more than that to Netflix. All the money in the theatres is only surplus. Nawazsays he doesnt differentiate between a Haraamkhor and any other film. When the camera rolls its all the same for me. I surrender myself completely to character. It doesnt matter what Im playing and what the budget of the film is. Every role is a challenge for me.