Nawazuddin Siddiqui is one of the finest actors in Indian cinema today. Known for his powerful performances in films like Gangs of Wasseypur, The Lunchbox, and Manto, Nawazuddin carved his own path in Bollywood, rising from humble beginnings and theatre roots to becoming a household name.
Recently, Nawazuddin opened up about his admiration for Kannada actor-filmmaker Rishab Shetty, and even admitted to being “jealous” of him — though not in a negative way.
The two were chatting on the sidelines of an event when Nawazuddin said, “The entire country saw Risabh and is shocked. He did not promote it or anything, he slipped in quietly and broke all, impressed one and all. If someone does good work, a sense of jealousy (crops in) and at the same time, the urge to compete inspires.”
Rishab Shetty made headlines with his film Kantara, which turned out to be a massive blockbuster. The film’s gripping storytelling and rooted cultural themes resonated with audiences across the country, earning him widespread acclaim.
When a reporter pointed out that Nawazuddin used the word jealousy, he clarified with a smile,
“Of course jealousy. It happens, because he is doing such good work. It is not that (negative) kind of jealousy but it makes you stand on your toes that even I have to work hard.”
Rishab Shetty was visibly humbled by Nawazuddin’s words and responded with equal admiration.
“I have watched so many of Nawaz bhai’s movies and watched his journey filled with hard work and effort. He is like us, we are middle-class people with no background but we want to come into the industry and make it big. He is a very big inspiration. He has come from theatre and done so many small roles (before making it big). Even we have done such small roles in Kannada cinema before we got our big break. He is our senior, we have the same journey.”
It was a heartwarming exchange between two self-made artists who’ve climbed their way to success through sheer talent and determination — and clearly, with a lot of mutual respect.