Although he is one of the most celebrated and acclaimed actors of Hindi Cinema now, there was a time when Nawazuddin Siddiqui had to face several rejections and insults due to his rural background and non typical appearance. Even after being successful for several years, Nawaz has stayed close to his roots and he often opens up about his struggles and hardships.

In a recent conversation with News18, Nawaz recalled how people used to dissuade him from pursuing acting. "Wherever I used to go, they used to tell me that I do not look like an actor and that’s why I should find some other work. ‘Actors are not like this, you are not an actor. Why are you wasting time’, I had to hear this, from office to office," he said.

He added, "But finally, it took me 9-10 years. There came directors who were making realistic movies. We emerged with them. Those films never used to work here, but they used to get appreciation at (film) festivals. That’s when commercial filmmakers thought of us as authentic and decided to cast us. They made films with us. That’s how I got acceptance."

Nawazuddin also recalled getting humiliated by a TV show maker who stated that casting actors like him is counterproductive to the business. He shared, “‘Aap log dikhte nhi ho (like actors)’, ‘You are unconventional’ What else can be harsh than this? When I used to ask for work in TV shows, they used to tell me ‘We cannot cast you because it will take more time. We’ll have to put on extra lights, whereas we have to send one episode every day. If we cast you, it will take 1.5 days, we’ll face losses. Better you find something else’.”