"I wept bitterly": Nawazuddin recalls a painful incident involving Kamal Haasan from his struggling days

Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui has opened up about how he almost broke down when he found out that his role in Kamal Haasan’s magnum opus Hey Ram, was cut. He recalled how he cried inconsolably and was later consoled by Shruti Haasan. He also revealed that though his portions didn't make it to a few films apart from Hey Ram, he was left utterly saddened about this role. He revealed in a recent interview that Kamal Haasan also happens to be someone whose craft he greatly admires, hence he longed to be a part of the film. He also revealed that he has watched all of his movies several times.  He was the Hindi dialogue coach on the sets of the film and that's how he was offered a role. His role was an important one but it didn't make it to the final cut thereby greatly upsetting him. It was Kamal Haasan's daughter who had consoled him.  

Narrating the incident, the actor said that the small Kamalji offered him was actually a substantial role where the 46-year-old actor was supposed to be a victim of a mob attack whom Kamalji rescues. After knowing the scene and his acting, Nawazuddin was really excited to play the role. Nawaz appeared in small roles in Aamir Khan’s Sarfarosh and Sanjay Dutt’s Munna Bhai MBBS, before breaking out with Anurag Kashyap’s Gangs of Wasseypur.Nawaz has had back-to-back streaming releases this year. He appeared in the long-delayed Ghoomketu, Honey Trehan’s murder mystery Raat Akeli Hai, and Sudhir Mishra’s Serious Men.

For the unversed, Hey Ram is a 2000 Indian historical drama film written, directed and produced by Kamal Haasan, who also acted as the protagonist. It was simultaneously made in Tamil and Hindi languages. Shah Rukh Khan plays an antagonist, making his debut in Tamil cinema.  The film has garnered three National Film Awards. Internationally, the film was screened at the 25th Toronto International Film Festival and at the 2000 Locarno Festival.