Nawazuddin Siddiqui plans acting school in Dubai

With an award-winning performance in The Lunchbox (2013) and his much-acclaimed character Chand Nawab in this year’s hit Salman Khan film Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui has come a long way from playing an unnamed character in 1999 in Aamir Khan film Sarfarosh. Today, the Gangs of Wasseypur actor is moving on to new heights by taking forward his acting skills — Siddiqui is opening an acting academy in Dubai.

The academy, which is slated to open early next year, he says will be accessible to everyone, providing a platform to better their skills. Moreover, Siddiqui will oversee the entire operation personally, he told tabloid! on the eve of the announcement of his project.

Siddiqui says he wants to share his own experience and knowledge in acting with this “global platform that will polish [actors’] raw skills and present their talent to the world”.

An alumni of the National School of Drama in New Delhi — the Government of India’s acting academy that has given the industry actors such as Naseeruddin Shah, Anupam Kher, Om Puri and Siddiqui’s The Lunchbox co-star Irrfan Khan — Siddiqui feels that despite talent being inherent, an acting school helps the individual become an actor in the true sense.

“We may not see this much in Bollywood, but an actor does need a lot of training,” says Siddiqui. “The training helps him to first discover his own latent talent. Until now, all a Bollywood actor seemed to want to [do is] find a niche with repeat performances — which even the viewers enjoyed. But the trend is changing now. By the grace of God, there is a lot of change in the industry for character actors. Viewers have started liking us, they feel that we are important, too, and follow us, and come to watch us perform. I think it’s a wonderful time to be in the industry. More and more viewers are now expecting actors to surprise them with each performance and character they portray. That portrayal requires a lot of training. Unless and until the actor has knowledge regarding characterisation, he will simply repeat himself. So training is very important in order for the actor to understand himself as an individual and to understand the character”.

Yet, instead of creating an acting academy in India, Siddiqui wants to have Dubai as the base due to its global access. Currently, the final structure and location of the school is being finalised. Siddiqui will not only hand pick students, he will create intense short- and long-term curriculums for new and seasoned actors to hone their skills.

“I want to create a conducive environment which is a must for nurturing the right talent. Courses are personally being crafted by me keeping international standards in mind, at the same time extending complete comfort and environment for any actor to learn and unlearn skills, which are so unique to this passion of mine. At the end of the day I personally want all of them to learn and have guidance from the most reputed names in world cinema.

“I always wanted to be in a place with easy global access that’s why I’ve chosen Dubai. Also, I always dreamed of taking it to the world. Dubai is now known not just in Bollywood but Hollywood, too. It hosts its own film festival — the Dubai International Film Festival — so I aim to garner the knowledge of eminent international film and theatre personalities that may attend as visiting faculty. The academy will be a true acting laboratory. So let’s see where it goes once it opens”.

Siddiqui’s unreleased film Haraamkhor, a tale of taboo love between a teacher and his adolescent student, has won the second prize at the recently concluded Jio Mami Mumbai International Film Festival. But the actor’s acclaimed The Lunchbox lost out on being nominated as India’s choice to the Oscars’ foreign film category. Earlier this month, Siddiqui talked about being happy that the Marathi film Court was nominated as India’s choice for award this year but agrees that most films that do the rounds in the festival circuit don’t always make it to Indian cinemas.

“You are right when you say these films aren’t hugely successful at the box office. I won’t name any but most films that go to film festivals don’t really find an audience. Yes, there have been exceptions such as The Lunchbox or Gangs of Wasseypur but that’s because they had a lighter tone to them too... They’ve gone against the grain that all films that go to film festivals have to be dark or gruesome.”

With Shah Rukh Khan’s Raees still far off as his next big release in 2016, what else could the audience expect from Siddiqui?

“I only pray that I go beyond the expectations of the viewer in my future ventures because that is the true quality of the actor.”

For more information on The School of Acting by Nawazuddin Siddiqui, email theschoolofacting@gmail.com or call 0091-9967777845.

Did you know?

Siddiqui is part of the SeedTheRise campaign for the betterment of the Indian farmer. A son of a farmer himself, Siddiqui feels very close to the initiative.

“I wish to create awareness because I cannot forget India was once an agricultural country, but then we did it at a small scale. Today, I agree that everyone is looking for a better opportunity outside the village — or the country for that matter — but I myself farm when I get the chance. I’m sure there are many like me who believe in this and will work towards it. What I hope is it will creates the right atmosphere which can take us back to our roots”.