Mr Lovely

“I used to watch C-grade films such as Khoon Ka Badla Khoon,Rang Khush,Bhaiyaa Aur Bandook,that were made by a director called Joginder. These were my first impressions of acting and films,” says Siddiqui. This year,as his film,Ashim Ahluwalia’s Miss Lovely showcases at Cannes in the Un Certain Regard section,he can’t help but recall Joginder’s films,and how Miss Lovely is a docu-drama that goes behind the scenes to look at C-Grade sex-horror films of the ‘70s. Siddiqui plays Sonu,who,with his brother Vicky Duggal,makes such films. “It was Paresh Rawal who suggested my name to Ashim for Miss Lovely,and I loved playing Sonu,for he is like me — raw,straight and honest — and is trying to find beauty and love in an ugly world,” says the actor,now spoken of as the next Irrfan.

Siddiqui loathes comparisons.Yet,he doesn’t deny his ability to bring a certain degree of rawness and reality to his characters. Be it the poet-reporter Rakesh of Peepli Live,the stubborn officer Khan in Kahaani,Tiger Menon’s trusted manager Asghar Yusuf Mukadam in Black Friday,Hanif in Firaq or Gopi in Paan Singh Tomar,Siddiqui,with his unassuming looks has made an impression. This year,as three of his films shine at Cannes,Siddiqui goes back to his days of struggle — street theatre,teaching at acting classes and one-scene nothings. “My first role was a blink-and-you-miss-it scene as a small-time crook in Sarfarosh,” says Siddiqui as he talks of the dark period post National School of Drama ten years ago. “I couldn’t get a job,and I couldn’t give into corruption or nepotism. Theatre was something that made sense. It’s pure art. What you see is what you get. There is instant gratification,” he says. He recalls how he was the underdog,sidelined for a long time,by his village and the industry till he said ‘enough’. “I didn’t want to play the crook or beggar,” he says. It was Anurag Kashyap who spotted his talent and promised him a break. He kept his word,and Black Friday happened.

While his village is yet to see his films,they want him to be the hero. The 38-year-old is looking forward to his Cannes feat,which will also showcase Kashyap’s two-part series,Gangs of Wasseypur,in which he plays the vendetta-driven Faisal Khan. Following this is the Aamir Khan-thriller Talaash,which has Siddiqui in shades of grey,Liar Dice in which he plays a deserted soldier,Dekh Indian Circus in which his character is that of a helpless father,and Patang — a film that made it to Berlin where he is a short-tempered band master,and his BAFTA-winning film Bypass. “I will soon start Lunch Box,a film on Mumbai’s dabbawallahs. Then,it’s Shankar Shambhu,a film on two friends,” adds the actor,who gave up the main villain’s role in Roland Joffe’s Singularity because the dates clashed with Gangs of Wasseypur. “Good actors in this industry are kept at bay. They either make it as comedians,villains or supporting cast,never the lead in a formula film,” says Siddiqui,wishing for the only constant — a change.