Nawazuddin Siddiqui, the actor who lately made a convincing impact as an intelligence officer in Kahaani, goes places.
One of America's most avidly read film critics Roger Ebert has personally invited Nawazuddin to wait the Eberfest, Roger Ebert's annual film festival in Illinois, Chicago.
The unassuming actor can't believe he actually got a decision from Roger Ebert. "It took me some time to comprehend the invitation came from THE Roger Ebert. My film Patang is the one Indian entry in Ebert's festival. If truth be told I FEEL it is the only Indian film that has ever been shown at this festival. That he is conscious about my work is a huge compliment."
The actor who's got a jam packed schedule ahead leaves for Chicago this week for the Ebertfest to be held from April 25-29.
That isn't all. Nawazuddin has just got to grasp that his starrer Miss Lovely have been selected for the distinguished Un Certain Regard portion of the Cannes film festival. He must now prepare for Cannes in Will even as he leaves for Chicago this week.
And that may be easier said than done. The unassuming actor from a small village in Uttar Pradesh is clueless concerning the clothes and the protocol in Chicago and Cannes. Nawazuddin intends to refer to Aamir Khan, his co-star in Talaash, at the dos and don'ts in Cannes.
The actor, who's got a jam-packed year ahead, has just completed shooting for a road movie Liar, Dice with Malayalam actress-filmmaker Geetu Mohandas and is able to shoot his next film to be directed by Anurag Kashyap's assistant Shlok Sharma. He's also required extensively in India for the promotion of his next release Anurag Kashyap's Gangs Of Wasseypur where Nawazuddin plays the pivotal role.
In the Cannes entry, Miss Lovely directed by Ashim Ahluwalia, Nawazuddin is cast as a Bollywood filmmaker within the 1980s who makes cheesy horror films.
Says Nawazuddin, "Paresh Rawal recommended me for the role. The best way Ashim shot the film is totally new. Not one of the actors were required to behave. It was like we were shooting a documentary in place of fiction. And now we're taking the film to Cannes. It's like a dream."
Says the actor, "It's frightening me. Because I AM NOT used to all this. I AM NOT even contemplating what I'll wear or how I'll behave in Cannes. In this day and age Roger Ebert's invitation hangs on my head. He's any such powerful critic. And to be representing the one Indian entry at his festival is a big honour."
Patang directed by Prashant Bhargava is ready through the kite-flying festival in Ahmedabad. In truth one in every of Roger Ebert's main interests on this lone Indian entry in his festival is the ritual of kite-flying.
Nawazuddin who specially learnt kite-flying for the film quips, "I FEEL Roger Ebert is enthusiastic about the ritual. If in Chicago he asks me to head fly a kite, I'd happily achieve this".
As for Cannes, a designer might be employed to do Nawazuddin's clothes. Under Aamir Khan's expert guidance Nawazuddin hopes to make an impression on international shores.
Says the actor, "IT IS A jam packed year. The Ebertfest and Cannes are like sudden windfalls. I've waited for years for this phase in my career. I HAVE BEEN acting for 22 years. I never dreamt I'd be sharing my dreams with Roger Ebert."
