The versatile actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s grabbed yet another interesting role as he will play a writer in his next film Manto based on the life of the author and playwright Saadat Hasan Manto. The actor shared the first look of the film on Twitter.
Notably, the actor bears a striking resemblance with the late writer and it can be seen in the picture clearly. In the black-and-white depiction, Nawaz is also wearing a pair of spectacles.
The film will be directed by Nandita Das. Earlier, she had said that she has done a look test with actors Nawaz and Rasika Dugal, who plays the role of Manto’s wife Safia, as per the reports.
“It’s a work in progress with a lot more to be done in terms of how Manto looked and, more importantly, how he was as a person. His attitude, sensitivity, courage and fears… many contradictions have to be portrayed honestly. I have no doubt that Nawaz is the best choice for the part, his range as an actor and sensitivity as a person are both needed here,” she was quoted saying.
“I’ve been reading up a lot on Manto and know a few of his writings by rote now. The role spans from 25 to 35 and my office is full of clothes and shoes replicated from his time. We won’t be using prosthetics and would like to keep the look as natural as possible as Manto was a simple man. I will imbibe the way he spoke but since there aren’t any videos available, I will have to depend on his writings to understand the rhythm of his speech and the way he would use words, beautifully,” Nawaz was quoted saying in the interview.
It will be the first time that Nawaz will be seen playing an author.
