Nawazzudin Siddiqui Says Nobody Has Cast Irrfan Khan And Om Puri As Leads, Says, 'Jab Zinda The...'

Nawazzudin Siddiqui has won many hearts through his versatile acting. When it comes to Bollywood, Nawazzudin holds a significant place in this industry. However, in a recent interview, the actor spoke about how the Bollywood industry has never cast the talents of critically acclaimed actors in lead roles like Om Puri, Irrfan Khan, Naseeruddin Shah, and Manoj Bajpayee in big-budget films. Even though the audiences wanted to see the stars as leads, the industry has never cast them.

Nawazzudin Siddiqui talked about how the GOAT actors didn’t get the opportunity to lead in big-budget movies

In a recent interview with Pinkvilla, Nawazuddin opened up about how the GOAT actors of Bollywood, from Om Puri, Naseeruddin Shah, to Irrfan Khan and Manoj Bajpayee, didn’t get the chance to appear as leads in the big-budget films. Nawazzudin also shared it makes him sad that such talents didn’t get the opportunity to reach a wide range of audiences. Opening up on the same, Nawazzudin said:

“From Naseer Sahab to Om Puri, then Pankaj Kapur and Irrfan Khan and Manoj Bajpayee; these are the greatest actors of our film industry. But unfortunately, nobody thought about making a big-budget film with them as leads. Nobody thought about this, even though people in India were crazy about watching them on screen. They were wonderful actors, but their cinema could never reach the masses. They say there are public's actors and industry's actors. But the films of these public's actors are not reaching the public. It saddens me.”

Nawazzudin Siddiqui calls out Bollywood for not casting Irrfan Khan and Om Puri

Further in the interview, Nawazzudin also called out Bollywood, as the industry that fondly remembers the actors, Irrfan Khan and Om Puri after their deaths, has never cast them as leads in big-budget movies. Nawazuddin mentioned that not a single person from the industry gave them importance when they were alive. Speaking of the same, Nawazuddin said:

“Aaj sab Irrfan Khan Irrfan karte hain. Jab zinda the tab to qadr ki nahi. Did anyone make a Rs. 20-25 crore film with him? No!"

Nawazzudin Siddiqui’s upcoming projects

Nawazzudin is now making headlines for his newly released OTT film, Costao, directed by Sejal Shah on May 1, 2025. The biographical crime drama features Nawazzudin as an honest customs officer in Goa during the 1990s. Nawazuddin’s upcoming movies include Thama. The upcoming film, Thama, is all set to hit the screens in Diwali 2025. The film stars Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna in lead roles. This movie is a horror comedy in which Nawazuddin plays the role of a vampire. As per the Mid-day report, after Nawazuddin joins the shoot in the third week of May, the makers of Thama will shoot the background story of how the actor will become a villain along with the climax. An inside source shared:

“After Nawazuddin joins the unit in the third week of May, they will shoot the backstory of how he became a vampire, and the climax.”

What are your thoughts on Nawazzudin Siddiqui's reaction to not utilising the talented actors, Irrfan Khan and Om Puri as leads in big-budget films? Let us know.

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