When we think of stars in Indian cinema, the name Nawazuddin Siddiqui inevitably shines through. From a brief role in Sarfarosh to headlining movies like Costao, his journey is a testament to perseverance and raw talent. But behind all the accolades and awards, lies a man who never even wanted the stardom he has now, let alone work for it. We all dream of making it big and getting the kind of fame Nawazuddin has. Then why did he never want to be a star? On the latest episode of the AfterHours with All About Eve podcast with Bani Anand, Nawazuddin opens up about why being a star was never his goal and how that has made all the difference to his career. 

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“Wanting to be a star is selfish”

When Bani asked him what he dreamt of, Nawaz replied, “The dream was to be a good actor, whether that meant theatre or anything else.” For Nawaz, stardom was never the end goal. “It was never about becoming a film star. That was never the dream,” he stated firmly. Nawazuddin Siddiqui also revealed that he didn’t come to Mumbai to act in films; he was satisfied with doing theatre. He only came to Mumbai to have better theatre opportunities.

In fact, he believes that chasing stardom alone is a misguided ambition. “If you’re only working hard because one day you want to become a star, then there’s already a flaw in your intention,” he said. According to Nawazuddin, one’s focus should be on honing their skills and perfecting their craft. The recognition or lack of it is secondary. “It’s not necessary that your efforts must lead you to stardom. Why does it have to be about becoming a star? Work for your skill.”

And he did work hard to be the exceptional actor he is today. “I used to lock myself in a room and work for 16 hours a day, training myself relentlessly,” Nawazuddin recalled. His words echo the wisdom of Lord Krishna: “Karam karo, phal ki chinta mat karo.” But how many of us actually believe in that and try to be good at what we do without craving recognition?

Nawazuddin Siddiqui reminds us that true success lies in dedication to the craft, not in chasing the spotlight. Perhaps that’s why his stardom feels so well-earned, because it was never the goal.

Catch more of Nawaz’s unique perspective on AfterHours with All About Eve.

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