Long before he was celebrated for his powerful roles in films like Gangs of Wasseypur and Sacred Games, Nawazuddin Siddiqui was just another dreamer in the chaotic lanes of Mumbai. A boy from Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, he arrived in Bollywood in the early 90s with stars in his eyes but no godfather or shortcuts to stardom.
He played blink-and-miss roles in films like Sarfarosh, Munna Bhai MBBS, Black Friday, and Shool. But even those few seconds onscreen were hard-won, as Nawaz took up jobs like being a watchman just to make ends meet.
Despite spending over a decade in the shadows, his phone rarely rang for auditions, and he was on the verge of quitting his acting dream. That’s when a letter from his mother arrived—and with it, words that would reshape his destiny:
“12 saal mein toh kachre ke din bhi badalte hain, tere bhi badalenge.”
(“Even garbage days change in 12 years, so will yours.”)
With fresh resolve, Nawaz chose to stay. A few years later, he exploded onto the scene with his breakthrough roles in Gangs of Wasseypur 2 and Kahani in 2012. Audiences finally saw what casting directors had missed for years—a powerhouse performer with unmatched depth.
Today, Nawazuddin Siddiqui owns a luxurious Rs 12.8 crore bungalow in Versova, has a net worth exceeding Rs 160 crore, and is considered one of Bollywood’s finest actors.
His upcoming project Costao is set to premiere on ZEE5, and if his journey has taught us anything—it’s to never give up before your time comes.
